The campaign will be constructed through public service announcements on television and online and "aims to promote environmentally friendly lifestyle choices among youth in order to reduce the carbon emissions that contribute to climate change", according to the broadcaster.
Thirty-five public service announcements will be made across MTV's network of 55 local TV channels in 162 countries. These will be supported by activity on the network's 44 online and 16 mobile services.
The campaign aims to reach a potential global audience of 1.5bn viewers, mainly addressing the 15- to 25-year-old demographic.
MTV said that the initiative would aim to deliver "simple tips to help viewers realise that small actions taken by many individuals can make massive differences to the world's carbon emissions".
The activity will include more than 10 celebrity-driven idents, which will direct viewers to a dedicated website at mtvswitch.org.
Bill Roedy, vice-chairman of MTV Networks, said: "We are facing a tipping point on climate change and we need to act now.
"The 'MTV Switch' campaign seeks to empower our viewers to make simple behavioural changes to have a profound impact on conserving energy. The statistics are staggering. If less than 1% of our total potential viewing audience -- roughly one million people -- switches to three energy efficient light bulbs, this would be equivalent to taking 100,000 cars off the road. Small energy efficient steps taken by many can clearly make a big difference to climate change.
"MTV Switch will engage the young people who will be impacted most by climate change through personal and motivational messages on-air, online and on mobile."
Six advertising agencies, including 180 LA, Cake, Lowe Worldwide, Ogilvy, Wieden & Kennedy and Young & Rubicam, created and produced the public service announcements for the MTV Switch campaign.
Each of the ads were created pro bono and, in an effort to reach the largest audience possible, will be available rights-free and cost-free to all broadcasters and content distributors around the world for use on-air, online and on mobile.
More than 25 other broadcasters have already signed up to air MTV's campaign, including the Community Channel in the UK, RTP in Portugal, ERT in Greece, UJRT in Serbia, LBC in the Lebanon, Metro TV in Indonesia, ITV in Tanzania and TV6 in Trinidad.
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