Cost of renewables

SIR – The Climate Change Act (1998) was one of the most economically damaging and unnecessary pieces of legislation in our history. At the time, Britain accounted for about 2 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions, which, if reduced by half – as this law required – would make no discernible difference to global climate.

Relying exclusively on renewables to fulfil the ever-increasing demand for electricity will not work. Banning gas boilers in favour of electric power (report, October 8) would quadruple the heating costs of most households – yet another blow to our economy. Peter Crawford

Sheffield, South Yorkshire

SIR – The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued the latest and most dramatic warning of the need to reduce carbon emissions to avoid a humanitarian disaster.

Existing advice urges us to play our part by turning down the central heating and putting jumpers on – yet we continue to sit outside pubs and cafés under patio heaters.

There is surely something quite obscene about heating the open air simply to sip cocktails.

John O’donnell

Colchester, Essex