"Water resources and climate change are subjects of great importance for the whole human family," the pope said, calling for people to "pray and work for greater respect for the marvels of divine creation."

Benedict was addressing his remarks to participants at an international conference on the protection of the environment in the Arctic, which is to open in Greenland on Thursday.

It is to be chaired by the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, the Istanbul-based Bartholomew I.

On Sunday the pope issued an appeal to save the threatened planet at a gathering of half-a-million young Italian Catholics at Loreto, in central Italy.

He urged them to "make courageous choices before it is too late," and attacked "development which has not always been able to protect the fragile balance of nature."