Keisha urges immediate climate action

ACTION: Keisha Castle-Hughes next to a sea wall in the Cook Islands.

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Actress Keisha Castle-Hughes has returned from her publicised trip to the Cook Islands urging immediate action on climate change.

The actress is one of a number of high-profile New Zealanders who have joined Greenpeace in the Sign-On campaign in a bid to pressure the government to adopt a 40 percent emissions reduction target.

She had travelled to the Pacific to document the impacts of climate change on the island nations.

"Our Pacific Island neighbours are suffering," she said.

"I saw the real and devastating impacts of a changing climate - coral bleaching, homes battered by cyclones, erosion and food crops affected by rising sea levels."

She admitted her knowledge was not scientific but said her experience had steeled her resolve.

"I haven't come out of the trip with the knowledge of a scientist, nor have I come out with all the answers on how to solve climate change but I do have a stronger passion than very before to see New Zealand do its fair share in this global crisis."

Castle-Hughes had sailed to Aitutaki on board the Greenpeace ship the Esperanza.

"The locals were all extremely welcoming and happy to share their stories of how their daily lives have been impacted. It was a real eye-opener," she said.

She also met with the Cook Islands Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism and Queen's Representative to discuss the issue.

World leaders will meet in Copenhagen in December to discuss a successor to the Kyoto Protocol. One hundred and ninety-two countries, including New Zealand, have signed the climate change convention.

Delegates will try to agree on reduction targets for developed countries and the curbing of the growth of emissions in developing countries.

Prime Minister John Key will also meet the Pacific heads of State in August.