Letters | 13 February 2010

Scientists must engage more

Sir: Arguments over nuclear energy, stolen emails from the University of East Anglia and allegations about flawed climate data have indeed split the green movement (‘The global warming guerrillas’, 6 February). But sceptics mustn’t get too excited. The revelations alter nothing. The centuries-old climate science behind the greenhouse effect of gases, such as carbon dioxide, is indisput-able. The world is still warming and humanity is still mostly to blame. ‘Climategate’ should not be seen as a lapse in climate science but a failure to implement the rigorous procedures that ensure only substantiated evidence is published. The IPCC must recover from its embarrassment, get a grip and re-double its efforts to show that the evidence for human-induced climate change is real and that globally co-ordinated action on mitigation and adaptation is urgent. This will require greater openness and a willingness on the part of scientists to engage with the public and the media.

Nick Reeves
London WC1



Sir: What the global warmers relish in the subconscious depths of their being is the power which they must acquire to save the planet. For such temperaments, it had been a terrible blow when the ignorant populace ceased to believe in hellfire. Then the collapse of socialism shattered the dream of establishing utopia by decree. Just when all seemed lost, however, ecology rode to the rescue, proposing a new hell on earth, which naught but tyranny could forfend. Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive. How dare the plebs insist on accurate science?

Arthur Benbow
Dundee

Rewriting history

Sir: It is a shame that Rian Malan’s brilliant and astute tribute to F.W. de Klerk for ending apartheid (‘F.W. de Klerk: Africa’s hero’, 6 February) is marred by his straying into Middle Eastern politics.