A mix of light entertainment and protest action is happening in Christchurch to highlight the dangers of climate change.

There will be a play and music as well as speeches and a short march for the Peoples Climate Parade today from Cathedral Square.

A similar event at the end of 2015 attracted more than 1500 people, organisers say.

The parade is part of a Week of Climate Action events in Christchurch and it it is a sister event of a march in Washington DC.

"This is our opportunity to stand in solidarity with Americans and the rest of the world as they protest their governments' attack on climate science and the environment with marches in Washington DC and 368 other marches in all 50 states and in six continents on the same day as ours," says co-organiser Torfrida Wainwright.

"Ours will be the first in the world."