In the latest display of religion going green, a senior aide to the Pope advised the Pontiffto raise the issue of climate change when he meets with George Bush in June.

Cardinal Renato Martino, a senior adviser to Pope Benedict, said that wilful environmental destruction is a sin “because not using the environment correctly is an offence not only against yourself but against all others who make use of the environment.”

Faithful from all the world’s religious groups should be environmentally aware and climate conscious, he told a Vatican-sponsored climate conference attended by UK environment secretary David Miliband.

The Cardinal pointed to religious education as a tool for raising climate awareness. “We have to start at the level of elementary schools, to make sure children are taught to respect nature and be aware of the problems of the world. We can’t wait until they are older. This has to be done naturally in religion classes, in religious groups everywhere,” he said.

Goska Romanowicz

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