Govts must protect people

Governments must protect citizens from the killer effects of climate change, movie tough guy-turned-statesman Arnold Schwarzenegger told AFP, insisting the United States was committed to a greener future despite Donald Trump reneging on the Paris agreement.

In an interview on the sidelines of a UN climate summit in Poland this week, the Terminator actor and three-time Mr Universe winner said he was on an "environmental crusade" and urged everyone to join in the climate fight.

Schwarzenegger added a sprinkle of stardust to Monday's opening session of COP24 climate talks in Poland, where nations must agree on a rulebook to limit global temperature rises and the devastating economic and health impacts global warming will bring.

"I think governments' responsibility is to protect people. That's why we have armies to avoid an attack. Well here is the biggest attack," he told AFP.

"Seven million people die every year because of (air) pollution, 25,000 of them die alone in America. If we don't want to fight that then there is something wrong with us."

In his two terms as California governor between 2003-2011, Schwarzenegger helped shape America's richest state into a green powerhouse.