The Church of England’s Environment Adviser has been selected as one of the 16 members of the Government’s new Third Sector Task Force on climate change, the environment and sustainable development.

The appointment David Shreeve was made by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn and the group meets for the first time this week.

The group members have all been chosen for their individual expertise and the networks to which they link.

Mr Shreeve takes a lead on the Church’s national Shrinking the Footprint campaign and has co-written two books for churches on the environment with Claire Foster, How many lightbulbs does it take to change a Christian? and Don’t Stop at the Lights. He is also the Director of The Conservation Foundation, which he co-founded with David Bellamy in 1982.

The aim for the new task force is to develop a vision and action plan for wider third sector involvement and to identify how Government and the third sector can best work together and contribute their expertise, experience and the ability to reach people.

The action plan will help identify and recommend long-lasting and relevant actions on environmental issues for organisations that work across the third sector and all levels of communities.

The Rt Rev Richard Chartres, Bishop of London and Chair of Shrinking the Footprint, said: "With his huge experience, David Shreeve will be able to make it clear that climate change is not just an economic problem to be solved by technology but that it is also profoundly a spiritual challenge involving doing justice to some of the most vulnerable communities in the world."

Commenting on his appointment Mr Shreeve said: “It is encouraging to be given the opportunity to involve the Church in this sort of initiative.

"I hope it will help show how the Church is concerned about these issues at all levels and that it wants to be involved in positive action to benefit the whole community. Like the Government, the Church of England is committed to shrinking its footprint by reducing its carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 becoming the 20 per cent Church."