WASHINGTON — Two unlikely allies — scientists and evangelicals — joined Wednesday to preach against the dangers of ignoring environmental problems, including global warming and species extinction.

While short on specific solutions, the new coalition vowed to press lawmakers and average Americans to change their attitudes toward environmental protection. Instead of focusing on their differences over evolution, coalition members said, they will concentrate on issues such as conservation.

"God is putting together groups of people with a common cause who may have been adversarial at times in the past," said the Rev. Joel Hunter, senior pastor of Northland Church in Longwood, Fla. "Protecting the environment is also a way for preserving life."

Wednesday, Harvard scientists and evangelical leaders advocated a broad agenda of reducing air pollutants, cleaning up waterways and simply turning off the lights.

"Science and religion are the two most powerful forces in the world today," said biologist E.O. Wilson. Protecting the environment "has to have a religious intensity."

The news conference coincides with a recent renewal of interest in Washington on energy and conservation.

Environmentalists are lobbying Democratic leaders in the new Congress on a range of issues, such as renewable sources of power. President Bush also is expected to address global climate change in his upcoming State of the Union speech. But pressure from scientists and preachers could help ensure environmental issues have staying power, said David Masci, a researcher at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.

The growing flock of evangelicals — and the backing of some of their top leaders — could bring enormous political power to environmental causes, Masci said. Especially when paired with leading scientists.

"It has tremendous symbolic value," Masci said.

"It speaks to a mainstreaming of this issue."