Britain's chief rabbi has called for a Sabbath devoted to the environment ahead of the climate talks due to be held next week in Copenhagen.
Jonathan Sacks says he wants the Shabbat beginning Friday night to be focused on environmental issues and has asked Jews across the UK to pray for sustainable habits of consumption and energy use.
The 61-year-old rabbi says he realizes that there are disagreements over climate change but that "there are some risks you just don't take ... and one is the risk of endangering the very viability of life on earth."
The rabbi spoke as world leaders prepare to meet on reducing emissions at an upcoming United Nations summit in Denmark, which begins Monday.