Greenpeace has enlisted actress Keisha Castle-Hughes to push its Sign On campaign.
Greenpeace say 2009 is a make-or-break year for climate change.
The Kyoto protocol is due to expire in 2012, and global leaders have pledged to meet in Copenhagen in December to decide a new way forward.
Greenpeace say it is the most important meeting of our time, and are using celebrities like Ms Castle-Hughes to document the effects of climate change in the Pacific in the lead up.
Ms Castle-Hughes travelled with Greenpeace from Rarotonga to Aitutaki on the ship Esperanza.
She is spreading the Sign On message that countries should commit to reducing carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2020.
But she is listening as much as she is talking.
“I’m here to give them a voice and to give them an opportunity to talk to me, so that I can gather information and take it back to New Zealand,” she says.
Elders spoke to the 19-year-old about their views on climate change – which they blame for changing food crop seasons, and more severe weather patterns.
Greenpeace is convinced Aitutaki is on the frontline of climate change.
“The impacts that we’ve seen include coral bleaching, sea level rise which is inundating land, and also contributing to worse storm surges,” says Greenpeace Climate Campaigner Trish Hurrup.
“Also drought, in some areas, which means people have less fresh water available.”
But Cook Islanders are already adapting to the changes.
“Because of climate change that’s why we are bringing in water tanks to assist out community to provide drinking water,” says Climate Change Officer Tuangaru Bishop.
Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Jim Marurai is uncertain about his country’s future.
“We are worried about it, and we are trying to do what we can,” he says.
“Although, we are one of the small states, there is very little we can do.”
He says he will not be making any demands of our Government, but Ms Castle-Hughes has other ideas.
“When I get home ideally I’d like to address John Key,” she says.
Greenpeace say the Pacific Islands do not want to rock the boat, so the lobby group will make sure John Key hears a strong environmental message when he tours the islands next month.
The Esperanza is leaving Aitutaki and will be a presence in Samoa when John Key arrives on July 7.
Greenpeace is hoping Pacific leaders will put climate change firmly on the agenda.
3 News