Sir David’s right: curb population growth to help save the world
WE RIGHTLY listen to Sir David Attenborough when he warns us about the problems the world is facing due to global warming. So why do we ignore his warnings regarding over-population? The human race is growing at an alarming rate, which is the main challenge facing the world today. Global warming is just one of the many problems resulting, at least in part, from this. Yet governments, with the possible exception of China, don’t have any plan to deal with this uncontrolled population growth. Indeed, some countries and all religions actively encourage the human race to go forth and multiply. Until the whole world faces up to this issue, anything our tiny country does to control global warming is meaningless.
ALAN J. HUNT, West Bromwich, W. Mids. THE climate change debate has confused and mixed messages regarding its causes and potential effects. The excellent TV programme Climate Change: The Facts presented by David Attenborough provided some insight into the impact of large-scale deforestation in the Amazon basin and South-East Asia due to global demand for palm oil. Clearing large tracts of native forest is accelerating the build-up of CO2 in the atmosphere. If the world’s leaders could take immediate action on this and begin a programme of reforestation, compensating as necessary, this could kick off the process of reducing the harmful effects of CO2 and the consequential rising temperatures on Earth. It will also provide the time needed to agree a programme of gradually reducing CO2 emissions caused by the burning of fossil fuels. This specific action should be the focus of those who, like me, believe global warming and its potentially disastrous effects should be tackled effectively and practically, taking into account the economic consequences on poorer nations. It would be more effective than socalled eco warriors disrupting society in order to satisfy their shallow egos.
ROBERT LOBELL, Lytham St Annes, Lancs. SIR DAVID is wrong. The scientific evidence does not show that climate change is man-made. Climate change is likely to be catastrophic and it seems to be accelerating, but scientific evidence shows the climate has always swung between extremes. The premise of the arguments used by the protesters who stopped traffic in London last week is a lie.
R. J. ANDREWS, Farnborough, Hants.