Speaking to an ecumenical delegation comprising christians and muslims at Hotel Kenzi Farah, Hallman called for an active involvement of christian and other faiths in eco-justice.

"What humans are doing now through carbon emissions, is to destroy what God loves. It is different from the fight against apatheid in South Africa."

He said the 10 billion inhabitants that the world will bear by 2050, must be able to co-exist, as this is the wish of all religions and men of good will.

"The issue of climate change is also a matter of international justice, which we need to protect," said Hallman, who is also Energy and Environment Officer for the United Church of Canada.

He said in the face of potent destructive forces unleashed by human activities and consumption, there must be inter-religious dailogue among religions to address issues of climate change.

"We need to reflect on how christians and muslims can work together in tackling the threat of climate change and its consequences," he said.

Henry Madelin, a French Jesuit Priest and Editor of Etudes, argued that if all religions put God as an ultimate creator of nature, then there must never be controversy.

"The crisis is that the notion of creation has been lost. We cannot leave religion alone, but include it in the social and environmental arena," he said.

Madelin said the ozone layer and its holes which warm up the earth in all continents do not prevent the believer from praying to God. "But he shall not pray tomorrow if his family is threatened by possible floods due to climate change," he said.

He said since the standards of living are now being determined by technology, it is the duty of governments including the church to prepare young generations for a "green" future.

"When it comes to issues like climate change, there must be no difference between race or religion. We are in an era where young people still want to drive cars and own fridges, despite the carbon emissions," said Madelin.

A new book has also been launched by Hallman during the climate talks , with the title : "Spiritual Values for Earth Community."

According to the book, the church's involvement in environmental issues stems from the belief that God created and loves man.

The author says that the church sees climate change as a profoundly ethical issue, caused by the polluting emissions from rich industrialized countries.

"These gases have accumulated in the atmosphere over the past 150 years, with the consequences being suffered by poor developing nations," the author says.

The book further says in its foreword : "We believe that that God intends that humans, should live in a wholesome relationship to the rest of creation."

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of about 350 christian churches, with a combined membership of 400 million individuals. The WCC has participated in the inter-governmental negotiating sessions on climate change since 1989, under the auspices of the United Nations.