With world leaders talking climate change in Copenhagen, Pope Benedict is weighing in on the subject:

Pope Benedict XVI called for urgent action to protect the environment, saying Tuesday that climate change and natural catastrophes threaten the rights to life, food, health — and ultimately peace.

In his annual message on the Roman Catholic Church’s World Day of Peace, the pope argued that the world’s economic, social, and environmental problems are moral crises that require mankind to rethink its way of living.

“We can no longer do without a real change of outlook which will result in new life-styles,” he said, touching again on a theme that has earned him a reputation as the “green pope.”

Benedict called on advanced societies to adopt “more sober lifestyles,” reducing energy consumption and favoring energy-efficient policies. He encouraged research into ways to exploit solar energy, to manage forests and to improve waste disposal.

Action is more pressing than ever “in the face of signs of a growing crisis which it would be irresponsible not to take seriously,” he said.

There’s more at the AP link.