Francis was speaking at an International Conference "Saving our Common Home and the Future of Life on Earth" on the third anniversary of his encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si' (Praise Be).

Delegates included climate change experts, indigenous people, prelates, journalists and activists. The conference programme looked at the current situation and ahead toward other major climate summits.

Francis warned delegates of the planet's outlook if unsustainable development and rampant consumption continues. It could turn the Earth into a vast pile of "rubble, deserts and refuse," he said.

Francis spoke in particular of deforestation in the Amazon, which he said threatens both the planet's "lung" and the indigenous peoples who live in the region.

"It grieves us to see the lands of indigenous peoples expropriated and their cultures trampled on by predatory schemes and by new forms of colonialism, fuelled by the culture of waste and consumerism," Francis said.

"All governments should strive to honour the commitments made in Paris, in order to avoid the worst consequences of the climate crisis.

"Reducing greenhouse gases requires honesty, courage and responsibility, above all on the part of those countries which are more powerful and pollute the most (ibid., 169) and we cannot afford to waste time."

In this process "local authorities, civil society, and economic and religious institutions can promote the culture and practice of an integral ecology."

In addition, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and similar institutions can play a key part in encouraging reforms promoting sustainable development.

He said he hopes "concern for the state of our common home" will lead to concrete actions to preserve the environment.

Last week's conference is the latest in a series of initiatives Francis has led on the environment.

Oil executives and investors were invited to the Vatican last month for a closed-door conference where Francis urged them to find alternatives to fossil fuels.

Next year, there will be a three-week synod about the church's response to the ecological crisis in the Amazon.

Although 194 United Nations member countries signed the Paris agreements, US President Donald Trump has said the US will pull out of the accord in 2020 (the first possible date to withdraw) unless he can get a better deal.

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They say his decision is a clear sign of his continued support of the fossil fuel industry which directly threatens the lives of communities living in the Pacific islands.

PICAN has demanded that Australia immediately reaffirm its commitment to the Paris Accord and begin strengthening its woefully inadequate targets.

They say it's time for Australia to follow the lead of the Pacific and stand with those on the front-lines of climate change.

In February, PICAN wrote an open letter to Patrick Suckling, the Australian Ambassador for climate change:

"Time and again, Pacific island leaders have explained that climate change is the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and well-being of the peoples of the Pacific. We must work together to tackle climate change."

"Unfortunately and there is no polite way to put this, your government is knowingly undermining our future and the future of our children.

"In full knowledge of the facts and long-term impacts, the Australian government is pressing ahead with new coal mines and coal-fired power plants."

"This directly contradicts global efforts to tackle climate change and puts our communities in peril."

This week Cardinal Peter Turkson called for a more effective and unified approach to managing, protecting, conserving and restoring marine and coastal ecosystems is needed.

He was speaking at the United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development,

"We cannot speak about marine and coastal ecosystems without considering the men and women who live there, because the human environment and the natural environment flourish or deteriorate together," said Turkson

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"The decision of President Trump to withdraw from the Paris Agreement shows no concern for the rest of the world, nor for life for the long term. Pope Francis urges us to take this to heart in Laudato Si," said Dew.

"All people, including the USA must see that the environment is not something outside of ourselves that we possess and with which we can do what we like. We all have a responsibility to care for our Common Home."

Dew's statement was included in a media release from the Churches Climate Network.

The Churches Climate Network includes Methodist, Anglican, Catholic, Quaker, Presbyterian, Salvation Army, members along with social and environmental justice organisations of the churches.

When Prime Minister Bill English met US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last week he expressed New Zealand's disappointment with Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the climate change accord.

Tillerson dismissed New Zealand's concerns about the US withdrawal, saying it reflected the will of the American people. He defended the US record, saying it had cut emissions to 1990s levels.

"We have every expectation that records of performance will continue. There's no reason it would stop just because we withdrew from the Paris climate accord."

In his former role as chief executive of Exxon Mobil Tillerson had supported the Paris Accord - and had advised Trump to stay in the agreement.

In his blog about Tillerson's visit Gordon Campbell wrote,"Tillerson's sober re-assurances to PM Bill English that the US remains committed to global and regional engagement (on trade, climate change and mutual defence) count for very little."

"Because on all such matters, President Donald Trump is listening far more closely to other, nationalist voices in the White House, such as his chief strategist Steve Bannon, and his policy advisor Stephen Miller,"

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