Madam, - May I extend my congratulations to Dr William Reville for restarting the debate on whether global warming is man-made or not? Just as we are reaching a consensus on the issue and belatedly taking action it is tragic to see such a prominent scientist muddying the waters over the IPCC reports.
In relation to the issue at hand there are only three questions that need answering:
1. Do greenhouse gases in the atmosphere cause global warming? Yes. The effect of greenhouse gases has been known for centuries. It is a natural effect without which the Earth would be 30°C cooler.
2. Have greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere increased? Yes. Since the end of the last ice age, carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas, remained constant at 0.028 per cent but has increased rapidly to over 0.038 per cent since the beginning of the industrial revolution.
3. Are humans the cause of this one-third increase? Yes. Burning fossil fuels produces CO, alters the natural carbon cycle and elevates levels in the atmosphere.
As the ice caps melt, the deserts expand, the sea levels rise and species disappear, will we continue to dispute, deny and debate the evidence all around us? If so, the only thing that can restore the balance is for us to run out of oil and experience a collapse of the industrial economy. But then, that is never going to happen - is it? - Yours, etc,
BRIAN DILLON,
Callan,
Co Kilkenny.