A NEW poll released by Christian Aid reveals the extent of the public concern about climate change, with a majority saying the Government needs to show more leadership in tackling global warming.

The You Gov survey shows that three in five UK adults say they are worried about the effects of climate change and 77 per cent think the Government ought to do more to reduce the UK's carbon emissions.

Even many of those who said they were ‘not very worried' about climate change were among the 90 per cent who said they have taken steps to reduce their own emissions.

Ahead of the United Nations summit in Copenhagen in December, 70 per cent of the public want to see
the UK Government taking a leadingrole in international climate change talks. At Copenhagen, the international community must agree a new carbon capping climate deal to come into force when the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol ends in 2012.

Christian Aid is campaigning on climate change to highlight the plight of millions of poor people in
developing countries for whom extreme weather conditions are now a matter of life or death.

Paul Brannen, head of campaigns at Christian Aid said: "The majority want the Government to take a lead in the vital climate change talks and the Prime Minister must personally lead the UK delegation."

Three quarters of the public who believe the Government ought to do more want public money used to reduce carbon emissions by investing in renewable energy, followed by better and cheaper public transport.

The poll revealed that people are already changing their own habits.Even at a time of financial crisis only 10 per cent said they had done nothing to reduce their own carbon emissions.

Christian Aid is asking members of the public to show their support for tackling climate change by taking its Copenhagen pledge at www.christianaid. org.uk/copenhagen

? In the run-up to the UN climate change summit Churches Together in Britain and Ireland have launched an initiative called ‘Time for Creation'. The theme is ‘Creation in Crisis' and the initiative runs until October 4. Free materials are available from www.ctbi.org.uk/creationtime

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