POPE Francis has called for the creation of "new and far-sighted economic models" as part of the fight against climate change.
Addressing a group of religious leaders from Manchester who were visiting the Vatican, the Pope said that the "commitment to safeguarding God’s gift of creation must be part of a broader effort to promote an integral ecology that respects both the dignity and value of each human person and acknowledges the tragic effects of environmental degradation on the lives of the poor".
The environment and our stewardship of creation have been central themes of Francis's papacy, which he explored in particular detail in the 2015 encyclical Laudato Si'.
"We need to acknowledge that the environmental and social crisis of our time are not two separate crises but one," he said.
Pope Francis urged a "determination to overcome the 'throwaway' culture of waste generated by present-day consumerism and by a globalised indifference that inhibits efforts to address these human and social problems in the light of the common good".
He praised the Manchester group's "common witness to the intrinsically moral and religious dimension of our duty to protect the environment as a God-given gift calling for our responsible stewardship".
"Within your communities, and guided by the wisdom of your various traditions, you play an important role in contributing to a much-needed 'ecological conversion' grounded in the values of respect for nature, sobriety, human solidarity and concern for the future of our societies," said the Pope.
"An essential aspect of this contribution is your commitment, as men and women of faith, to forming the minds and hearts of the young, and seconding their demand for a change of course and for farsighted policies that have as their goal a sustainable and integral human development."
