The Church of England has challenged BP and Shell to take responsibility for their carbon footprint.

The Church which holds investments in both BP and Shell oil companies, says they have a “vital opportunity to influence the strategy on climate change of the companies whose shares we own”

The church will be submitting a shareholder resolution calling on both companies, who are two of the top five companies that the church has invested in, to “adapt their businesses over the long term for a low carbon economy”.

BP said: “We have had constructive discussions with CCLA and are aware that they intend to file a resolution for our AGM in April 2015. We will carefully consider it and respond appropriately before the meeting.”

Shell declined to comment.