IN December, the United Nations will meet in Copenhagen for crucial climate change talks.

They must agree to a fair, ambitious and binding deal to limit global warming to below 2°C.

We have all seen the effects of the recent flooding in Cumbria, Flooding like this, with its opposite, drought, caused by climate change, is already affecting the lives of millions of the poorest people throughout the world.

These people have done least to produce it and are suffering most from it; this is an injustice that must be put right at Copenhagen.

To halt catastrophic climate change, world scientists agree that global carbon emissions must start to fall rapidly during the next decade.

This requires that all developed countries must reduce their emissions by 40% in the 30 years from 1990 to 2020. These cuts must be legally binding and matched by aid to help developing countries adapt.

The Church is doing its part. We have already adopted our ‘Shrinking the Footprint’ campaign, and other denomin-ations are doing the same.

People are worried about their children’s and the planet’s future. Many are taking action and changing their own lifestyles.

A large number of them will be joining the Wave, the biggest ever UK demonstration on climate change, in London on December 5.

I call upon the world leaders at the summit to act boldly for the future of the planet and the poor of this world, and for all of us to do everything in our power to halt climate change.

Nicholas, Bishop of Blackburn.