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Christian, Jewish, Muslim leaders launch global climate campaign

Religious leaders in the Holy Land have launched an inter-faith environmental campaign, one which calls on Christians, Jews and Muslims to reduce the planet's carbon footprint and pressure their political leaders to do the same.

"The main religions should really study the ecological crisis together, because our destiny is common," bishop William Shomali told AFP news agency. "If Earth is polluted it is polluted for Muslims, Christian and Jews."

The Interfaith Centre for Sustainable Development, launched in Jerusalem Monday, expects to host an international gathering of religious leaders in New York, spearhead a North American public relations campaign and educate new clerics about the environment, according to organizers.

The effort may one day broaden to include leaders from other major religions, including Buddhism and Hinduism, they said.

Proponents are also urging "political leaders to adopt strong, binding, science-based targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases in order to avert the worst dangers of climate crisis," according to a statement endorsed by the Centre.

Early last June, nearly 50 North American religious groups wrote to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, voicing their opposition to a major oil sands pipeline, the Keystone XL, proposed from Alberta to Texas.

"As a people of faith, we are in awe of Earth's goodness and its ability to provide life for all of God's creation," it read. "We urge you not to permit TransCanada the opportunity to build the Keystone XL Pipeline."

The State Department plans to release a new environmental impact statement for the pipeline by mid-August.

Geoff Dembicki reports for the Tyee.


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