The Bishop of Wolverhampton, the Rt Revd Clive Gregory, has used a pastoral letter to congregations in the Diocese of Lichfied to warn of the impending "catastrophe" facing the earth through climate change.

In a letter published in January's parish magazines throughout Staffordshire, the northern half of Shropshire and most of the Black Country, Bishop Gregory said: "We know, beyond any reasonable doubt, that God's Earth is not so much 'in danger' as heading for catastrophe."

He continues: "The polar bear and human inhabitants of coastal strips and pacific islands may be the first victims but all of us will be affected."

He pointed to last year's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, which found that global warming was "very likely" being caused by human activity.

"Indeed the IPCC report predicts that 'the poor and elderly in both rich and poor countries will suffer most' as a result of the devastating impact that climate change will have on the world's economy," he said.

But Bishop Gregory insisted there was still the "opportunity to avert disaster", saying that Christians should to take the lead in changing public opinion on the subject.

"In the democracy that we are fortunate to live in, political will is fashioned by popular opinion," he said. "I am in no doubt that it is our Christian responsibility to take a lead in shaping opinion on this subject.

"For who should be the most committed environmentalists? Those whose vocation is to be stewards of God's wonderful creation.

"Who should be the most committed humanitarians? Those whose vocation is to see God's image in the face of our fellow wo/man."

He adds: "Some will find it easier to shrink their carbon footprints than others but one modest achievement within reach of all of us would be to do our shopping in the January Sales without using any additional bags.

"A drop in the ocean but, as the Jubilee 2000 and Fairtrade campaigns have shown, from small ripples, great waves of change can ensue."