Robert Downey Jr. aims to be a real life superhero after playing Iron Man as he vows to clean up the earth by fighting pollution with the Footprint Coalition
After playing Iron Man for more than a decade, Robert Downey Jr. has found a real-life villain he wants to defeat: pollution.
The movie star, 54, says he plans to start an organization next year called the Footprint Coalition.
He didn't give any details of the initiative, but has spoken to experts who said robotics and other technology could help clean up the planet significantly in the next decade.
Real life superhero: Robert Downey Jr., 54, announced his plans to launch the Footprint Coalition on Tuesday to help fight pollution; (pictured April)
He plans to officially launch the Footprint Coalition in April 2020 and vowed to spend the next 11 years working on making some kind of difference in what he called 'a massive threat to our future and the mess we leave behind.'
Downey made the announcement late Tuesday at the start of Amazon's brand new Machine Learning, Automation, Robotics and Space (re:MARS) conference in Las Vegas.
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The event is for the online retailer and other companies to show off how they use artificial intelligence and other technology.
As Downey talked on stage, images of plastic bottles and other litter flashed on the screens behind him.
Vowed: After playing Iron Man for 11 years, he vowed to spend the next 11 years working on making some kind of difference in what he called 'a massive threat to our future and the mess we leave behind'
The actor, who has played Iron Man in several superhero movies, admitted that he hasn't been kind to the environment in the past.
'I am a one-man carbon footprint nightmare colossus,' he said.
'I want to change.'
'Quick disclaimer, I don't pretend to understand the complexities we face as a species, just because I portrayed a genius in my professional life,' Downey added.
'On the flip side, I did play an interesting and iconic character for 11 years, Tony Stark,' he said. And he enjoyed the character because Stark went from a 'soulless war profiteer to a man who was willing to sacrifice himself for the good of the community.'
'I've got to do something. I'm unemployed,' he quipped, a reference to Avengers: Endgame.
Grateful star: In this April 22, 2019, file photo Robert Downey Jr. signs autographs as he arrives at the premiere of "Avengers: Endgame" at the Los Angeles Convention Center
