In a special conference addressing the challenges of global warming, water management and biodiversity, Churches in the West Country are being urged to take the environment more seriously.

|TOP|The former Director of Kew Gardens, Professor Sir Ghillean Prance, will be among the speakers calling on the churches to play their part in reducing man-made contributions to environmental change.

Martyn Goss, from the Council for Church and Society, said: “It is now becoming very clear that our human impact on the Earth is dangerous and threatening, both in vulnerable countries and here in Devon. Our churches have a role to play in caring for the future and that must be demonstrated in how we live”. He added: “We cut down our demands for energy, decrease our carbon emissions, replenish habitats and preserve water. These are all practical issues for our Christian communities to act on, and central to our faith tradition,” he added.

In addition, Christian Aid recently urged the Prime Minister to cut down UK's emissions of greenhouse gases before leading the global fight against climate change.

In a report published last month, Christian Aid claimed global warming poses one of the biggest threats to the global fight against poverty and warns 182 million people could die in Africa as a result, due to climate-induced floods, famine, drought and conflict.

Although the charity welcomed Mr Blair's attempts to put climate change and development on the political agenda, they said he risked appearing a "hypocrite" unless Britain cut back its own greenhouse gas emissions.

Andrew Pendleton, Christian Aid's senior climate change analyst, said: "It is the rich world like the UK, Europe and the United States that is overwhelmingly responsible for the climate change that is threatening the livelihoods of millions of the world's poorest people.

|AD|"And while it is true that the UK has hit its Kyoto Protocol targets for cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions, the Government has since weakened its stance saying it will only 'aspire to' further cuts.

"With the welfare of the developing world now directly linked to how much we in the rich world reduce our emissions, it is has become crucial for the UK to cut back further.

"Britain must lead the way globally on climate change with action at home and set an annual, contracting budget for UK carbon emissions that is then independently monitored by a new climate change commission."

Christian Aid further emphasised that Blair should take initiative in cutting UK's emissions before leading to curb emissions globally.

Mr Pendleton added: "If Mr Blair aspires to global leadership on this issue, he must cut his own domestic emissions or run the risk of appearing a hypocrite."