Climate is changing and we must adapt

THERE are three big drivers of weather for any place on Earth.

The biggest weather factor is latitude – are you in the torrid, temperate or frigid zone? These climatic zones are defined by the intensity of heat delivered to Earth’s surface by the sun. The second weather-maker is the local environment – geography, topography, winds, ocean currents and human activity. The third relates to cycles in the solar system.

Trying to calculate something called “global average temperature” from this massive variety of everchanging data covering diverse locations, times and weather is an exercise in statistical sophistry – either meaningless or misleading.

“Climate” is just the notional 30-year average of weather, so climate is controlled by the same big three factors that drive weather.

Notice one thing about the three big drivers of weather? Not one is measurably affected by the trace amount of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere. Never does a daily weather forecast mention CO2, and never do weather-watching farmers or sailors note daily measurements of CO2. However, there are more than 100 computerised climate forecasting models run by bureaucracies that use CO2 as a key driver.

CO2 is a colourless natural atmospheric gas. It does not generate heat – it just moves heat around. In the atmosphere, it may slightly reduce the solar radiation reaching the surface, thus producing cooler days; and it may slightly reduce night-time radiative cooling, thus producing warmer nights. The net effect is probably a tiny net warming at night, in winter and in polar regions – all of which are probably welcomed by most people.

Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the key nutrient of our life on Earth. It is nothing to be scared of.

No level of carbon taxes or emission targets will stop Earth’s climate changing. Nature rules, not politicians. Viv Forbes Queensland, Australia