Blacks targeted in climate campaign

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The growing movement to fight global warming includes entertainers and evangelical ministers, scientists and suburban moms. Even both presidential candidates have called for fewer emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gasses that contribute to climate change.

What it doesn't have a lot of is African-Americans. So environmental activists and like-minded politicians are intensifying outreach to blacks by framing their cause as a new frontier in civil rights.

"Engaging the community will require the churches," Cartwright said. "A lot of what happens in the African-American community starts in our churches."

Scores of conservative evangelical leaders have become convinced that protecting the environment is a religious and moral issue, widely referred to as "creation care." But Cartwright said she expects black churches to frame the issue in terms of environmental justice: the poor and minorities are disproportionately affected by climate change.