Sir, – In reviewing Met Éireann’s release of the latest longterm meteorological averages, your Science Editor Dick Ahlstrom states that “there is no evidence in these figures to prove that global warming is at play” and that “people may seek evidence that climate change is under way but they won’t find it here” (Science Today, May 31st).
This is a view rather glaringly at variance with that of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which stated in its 2007 Synthesis Report (SYR) that “warming of the climate system is unequivocal” (SYR p2).
Further, in making his case, your science editor does not make the vital distinction between natural climatic variability and the much more serious and threatening anthropogenic (humanly-caused) climate change.
Again, the IPCC states: “There is very high confidence (greater than 90 per cent certainty) that the net effect of human activities since 1750 has been one of warming” and that “most of the global increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely (greater than 90 per cent probability) due to the observed increase in anthropogenic GHG (greenhouse gas) concentrations” (SYR p5).
Science is based on scepticism. But good science is about proving scepticism wrong, if needs be, in the face of evidence. A “paper of record” cannot maintain its record or its credibility by being unduly selective in its choice of evidence base. – Yours, etc.