ECO-tourism could safeguard Bournemouth for future generations, according to the UK representative of environmental campaign The Earth Charter.

Addressing an interfaith conference on the environment at the resort's Carrington Hotel, Rabbi Jeffrey Newman said: "Eco-tourism is a critical area. Bournemouth could become a very influential place. More people might wish to come here."

Rabbi Newman suggested that Bournemouth could become an eco centre and won applause from an audience of religious leaders when he added: "Your bid to get a large casino seems a step entirely in the wrong direction.

"As well as being named the happiest town in the UK, Bournemouth could also be the happiest town in the UK for children to grow up in.

"It is possible to make significant progress."

Rabbi Newman told representatives from more than 200 religious communities in Bournemouth, Poole and surrounding areas: "All we ever have is now. We can do it. We cannot wait for others.

"We have to change ourselves, cut down on our energy use. We need to wake up and be more conscious of what we are doing."

He warned: "Climate change is happening; even if it is not completely clear what is causing it. We have to bring about change and we have to face up to humanitarian disasters that are already taking place because of climate change."

The organiser of the event, Rabbi Neil Amswych, of Bournemouth Reform Synagogue, said: "We've handled large-scale death before, mainly by ignoring it or by annually giving to charities that help ameliorate the lives of a lucky few villages.

"But what we are facing now is something so much greater that it borders on the incomprehensible, and it can't be dealt with by small regular donations in a charity box.

"We know now that we are at a critical stage in human development."

He stressed: "We have a religious obligation to defend this planet and the best way to do that is publicly, in great numbers, and from a firm basis in our religious traditions."