Religious heads want climate action

There is a "moral imperative" to tackle the causes of global warming, leaders from across the UK's religious communities have said.

At a meeting hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, leaders from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Baha'i, Jain and Zoroastrian faiths called on the UK and G20 governments to fight for an ambitious deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions at UN-led talks in Copenhagen in December.

A statement issued by the groups meeting at Lambeth Palace, London, said catastrophic climate change posed a "very real threat to the world's poor and to our fragile creation".

The leaders said the developed world was primarily responsible for the emissions which cause climate change, and urged G20 governments to fight for an agreement which would speedily end global reliance on fossil fuels and keep temperature rises to 2C to avoid the worst impacts of a warming world.

"We recognise unequivocally that there is a moral imperative to tackle the causes of global warming," the statement said.

"This is reinforced by the reality that it is the poor and vulnerable who are most profoundly affected by the environmental impact of climate change - especially droughts, floods, water shortages and rise in sea levels."

They also pledged to reach out to their communities to raise awareness of the real potential for catastrophic climate change and increase public support for a strong deal to cut emissions in Copenhagen.

Dr Williams said: "We all have to do more to face the challenge of climate change. Faith communities have a crucial role to play."

Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband, who has warned that achieving a deal at Copenhagen still hangs in the balance, said: "Each generation holds the planet in trust for the next and to fulfil our obligations to these future generations, we must succeed in getting a fair and ambitious agreement.

"We need the voice of all the world's religions in the coming weeks as we approach the Copenhagen summit."