The two front-runners for the presidency Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal have both pledged support for Hulot's 10-point pact, which calls for a levy on carbon emissions, a new post of deputy prime minister for the environment, and a radical change in farm policy.

Hulot, who presents the TV travel-nature programme Ushuaia and has advised President Jacques Chirac on the environment, said he would set up a "permanent observatory" to monitor the election campaign and asked the other candidates to "formalise their commitments" to his pact.

The tousled-haired campaigner is by far France's most popular environmentalist, credited with 11 percent of voting intentions at a recent poll -- far ahead of the official Green Party candidate Dominique Voynet on two percent.

He said his decision not to stand in the election was also partly based on the knowledge that his candidacy was opposed by most in the Green Party, who feared it would split the environmentalist vote.

In a poll Sunday 59 percent of the public said they did not think Hulot should run for the presidency. Asked what other candidate would best protect the environment, Voynet came top with 18 percent followed by Sarkozy on 17 percent and Royal on 13 percent with anti-globalisation campaigner Jose Bove.

Sarkozy, who is interior minister in the centre-right government, said he respected Hulot's decision not to stand and promised to honour his commitment to the pact if he is elected.

"He can take satisfaction in having pushed forward the issue of the environment ... I believe I have a particular responsibility -- precisely because he is not now standing -- to make the environment one of the central causes of the election," Sarkozy said.

Royal issued a statement urging the French to put their names to Hulot's pact, which has already drawn some half a million signatures.

"No economic, social and democratic system can resist the consequences of climatic change and ecological disorder .... I pledge to integrate the ecology pact in the presidential manifesto," she said.

Born into a wealthy Parisian family, Hulot's life was turned upside down on Christmas Eve, 1974, when he discovered the body of his elder brother in the family basement. He had committed suicide, leaving a note saying "Life is not worth living."

Hulot said the shock gave him the resolve to "live my dreams". In 1987 he launched his hit television show, in which he travels to exotic locations promoting his environmentalist message.

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