Two of Erja Hakkinen's big loves are at odds right now. And we're not talking her divorce from Mika Hakkinen, which recently sent shock waves through the F1 world. What Erja is referring to is F1 racing, the gas guzzling sport she continues to be crazy about, pitted against her growing sense of responsibility for the environment.

In fact, although she, her seven-year-old son and three-year-old daughter are seriously excited about the Grand Prix in their home town this month, it's global warming that is currently winning out.

Erja is in Finland right now, getting ready to jump on a plane to Madagascar for ten days, where she and a fellow Finnish celebrity will be tackling some serious eco-issues as part of a Finnish TV programme.

"Our task is to go over there, talk to the local people and the professors about what they think the biggest problems are. Then we make a strategy, find the money, find the people to help us, and then go back at the end of the summer, having worked remotely in the meantime, to see if we can solve the problem," says the 45-year-old journalist and former TV presenter.

"I remember in the 1980s, everyone talking about the climate problems but no one taking it seriously. We thought people were dreaming, and it’s taken us 20 years to realise they were not."

The programme, being made by the biggest production company across Denmark, Sweden and Finland, is the first of its kind. "We're trying to create an example for our viewers by showing them that one person can play their part in saving the world," she insists.

Erja is one of six Finnish celebrities involved. They are broken into three teams of two, with each team tackling a different global warming crisis across the world. Erja and her teammate, a famous Finnish musician, are tackling Madagascar's pollution problem, caused by a huge proportion of its trees cut down in recent years.

"I don't know enough about it yet, but we'll be talking to academics and local people, and contacting big corporations and companies to get involved and help us find a solution. We're also hoping to start a people movement through the programme," she continues.

"If we're successful, we'll be passing the format onto France and Germany, even England, and challenging them to do something similar. We want to create a chain reaction by getting more companies, individuals and celebrities across the world involved, and making big changes to the planet."

If there's one thing that irks Erja though, it's how long it's taken everyone to take global warming seriously - herself included. "I remember in the 1980s, everyone talking about climate problems and seeing terrifying photos of the changes. But no one really took it seriously. We thought people were dreaming, and it's taken us 20 years to realise they were not.

"I love my life in Monaco because it’s one of the safest and nicest places to live, considering how threatening the world has become."

"It took people like Al Gore with his documentary to open people's eyes. Now we know that if we don't react, in 20 years time it's our children who are really going to suffer from the problem."

This is a huge worry for Erja, whose other passion is helping children suffering with illness, from accidents, or who are from disadvantaged backgrounds.

She currently supports two children's charities, the Ronald McDonald housing project, where money is donated to build houses next to hospitals for the families of children who are ill and need long-term hospital care. The second charity role she undertakes is ‘Godmother' to a number of children's hospitals, collecting money to buy equipment that is essential for their treatment.

"It's fantastic being able to see exactly where the money goes, and watch how it benefits people. Children are very close to my heart. In this world, there are so many unfortunate ones. You can never do enough to help them, there's always more," she insists.

There's also her own two children who keep her busy at home, alongside her journalistic career, writing articles and columns for a number of Finnish newspapers.

It's a wonder then that, with her strong attachment to Finland both professionally and personally, and with an impending divorce, she's not tempted to leave Monaco behind? "I love my life in Monaco. It's one safest and nicest places to live, considering how threatening the world has become at the moment," she admits.

"I used to live in Paris, for ten years, so moving was a huge change at first because the place seemed very tiny," she continues. "But 12 years on, I am so happy. With both the French and Italian side, and Spain also close by, it's an ideal location. You have everything."

And then there's the Monaco Grand Prix each year, which she admits she loves. "They say Monaco residents leave when it's Grand Prix time because of the noise, the number of people, and the streets being cut off. But I love it!

"Having been to every F1 destination, Monaco is special. The yachts, the harbour, I think it's fantastic, as do the children. It's a family thing," she admits.

But to offset any green guilt she has about it, she's throwing herself whole-heartedly into another charitable challenge that takes place on the Friday night of the Grand Prix. "I've volunteered to help fundraise at the Amber Fashion event, which will go towards Elton John's AIDS Foundation.

"It's a small part to play," she says, "but, like everything in life, even if we play a small part, every little helps."

By Barbara Walshe