The Methodist Relief and Development Fund has this week launched a new partnership with electricity supplier Good Energy.

The company is the only in the UK to supply 100 per cent renewable energy from wind, wave and solar power.

For every new customer who mentions MRDF when they sign up, Good Energy will make a donation to the charity.

MRDF Director Kirsty Smith said: "Climate change is a reality facing the poorest communities in which MRDF works.

"Churches or households would not only be cutting their carbon emissions by switching to Good Energy, but would also be supporting MRDF's work making small miracles possible in the world's poorest communities."

The launch of the partnership coincides with Energy Saving Week which draws to an end on Sunday.

Throughout the week, Methodists have been encouraged to think more carefully about their energy use and learn some of the practical steps that can be taken to lower their consumption.

Earlier in the week, the Bishop of London the Rt Rev Richard Chartres called on Christians to take individual and collective action "in addressing the unsustainable way in which we are exploiting the earth's resources. Saving energy and cutting carbon emissions must be at the heart of this call to action".

The Church of England's own carbon cutting campaign, Shrinking the Footprint, has also been enjoying great success. The campaign is encouraging more churches and their members to take practical steps to reduce their carbon impacts and promote greater ecological awareness among the wider community.

"The Church of England accepts the need for change in its own life and that is why, as a first step, the Shrinking the Footprint campaign was launched," said Bishop Chartres.

"Our churches have a pivotal role to play in tackling the stark reality of climate change, whether it is through their own environmental initiatives or through their outreach to hundreds of thousands of people every week. We should be making our presence felt on the crucial issue of the environment."