Fossil alarm

Richard Dixon regularly enjoys the luxury of many column inches in which to express his views on the environment and climate change.

He draws attention to what he calls false accusations that the youthful followers of Greta Thunberg have simplistic solutions to the so called climate crisis (Inside Environment, 22 September). Rather than focusing primarily on the small degree of human influence on the climate they should take the trouble to understand that there is a chaotic and complex blend of infinitely more powerful natural forces at work.

Dr Dixon’ s admiration of Thunberg and her followers’ vociferous, doom-laden pre - dictions that we must follow the fossil-free path to green redemption should be tempered with reality. Far from being the curse of mankind, the Industrial Revolution has brought untold well being and prosperity. To terminate the extraction of fossil fuels, as many environmentalists demand, would lead to eco - nomic and social disaster. Of course, as reserves become depleted we will need alternative technologies, but we need a staged, thoughtful transition instead of activistinspired, ill-judged, knee-jerk political decisions. For example, the rush to mis-named “zero emission” electric vehicles has massive negative environmental implications that are seldom, if ever, mentioned.

Dr Dixon laments the Californian wildfires while choosing to ignore the indisputable

fact that, like those in Australia, they are largely a consequence of neglectful forest management. These have been forced on rangers by misguided environmentalists which have allowed dangerous accumulation s of combustible materials, aided by political incompetence which has, in addition, allowed inappropriate housing. If Dr Dixon was indeed a true Friend of the Earth he would recognise and acknowledge that many of the policies he champions result in a cascade of unintended negative consequences.

NEIL J BRYCE Gateshaw Cottage

Morebattle, Kelso