Pollution goes against God's will, say church leaders in Ash Wednesday message

The declaration was released by Operation Noah, the Christian environmental charity. Other signatories include Bishop of London the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, Archbishop of Wales Barry Morgan and leaders of the Methodist, Baptist and United Reformed churches.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, has also signed the declaration.

The Rt Rev David Atkinson, of Operation Noah, said: "We believe that this is a time of urgency for the church.

"The threat of runaway climate change is the most significant moral question facing us today."