Sir, – Cormac O’Raifeartaigh (Life Science, May 30th) is in serious error in claiming that greenhouse gas emissions are accelerating because he only cites figures for one of the greenhouse gases, CO2.
However, when the other greenhouse gases are included the warming effect of all the gases has actually decelerated since 1990!
This is because the other greenhouse gases – mainly CFCs and methane – have not been increasing as fast since 1990 as they did in the period 1960-1990.
Of course this slower rate of increase in the warming effect since 1990 does not mean that we can ignore climate change, but it may give us more time to innovate our way out of the problem. – Yours, etc,
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TONY CAREY,
Glencree Road,
Enniskerry,
Co Wicklow.