Madam, - Most of the points raised in Richard Waghorne's letter of December 15th have been refuted many times in recent years. He states that the Kyoto Agreement rests on shaky science. He also implies that there is some doubt about the scientific consensus surrounding climate change. In fact, there is a clear scientific consensus on the reality of climate change as a result of human activities.
A study of 928 papers on climate change published in refereed scientific journals was reported in Science (December 2004). There were no papers published from the sceptical viewpoint, which would suggest zero credibility for Mr Waghorne's position.
The Kyoto Treaty is only the start of the process to try to reduce the effects of climate change and move us away from a fossil fuel-driven world to a sustainable, energy-efficient one with renewable energy systems gradually replacing the fossil fuels. Much greater reductions in greenhouse gases will be necessary to slow down climate change. - Yours, etc.,
NICK ARMSTRONG,
Pine Copse Road, Dublin 16.