The United Reformed Church has joined others in warning the Prime Minister that not acting urgently at the Copenhagen climate change conference would be a “moral failure”.

The Revd John Marsh, moderator of the general assembly of the United Reformed Church, joined the Revd Jonathan Edwards, general secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, and the Revd Stephen Poxon, president of the Methodist Conference, in writing to the Prime Minister. Their letter said: “We believe that the recent communication of the European Commission fails to set out clear proposals for a comprehensive, ambitious and equitable new global agreement on climate change.

“The current recession stands to impact many in our communities and we recognise that EU heads of government are tempted to use the immediacy of the economic crisis to shy away from taking long-term action on climate change. We are convinced that it would be short-sighted to stimulate economic growth without simultaneously addressing deficiencies in the relationship between economy and ecology.”

The three church leaders add: “We recognise that challenges facing you and other EU heads of government will be immense. Yet, if Copenhagen 2009 is to be the moment in history in which humanity has the opportunity to rise to the challenge and deal decisively with climate change, then key aspects of the EU’s negotiating position need revision.