Sir, - The most authoritative grouping of scientists brought together for any purpose (2,000 members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) has concluded that we humans are having a discernible effect on the global climate. It seems likely that recent devastating flooding is attributable to global warming.
How can we claim to be serious about tackling the greenhouse gas emissions which cause global warming - and their increasing tangible effects - when:
new car sales rose by 42.9 per cent to approximately 6,100 vehicles every week in the first six months of this year;
the National Development Plan proposes to spend £6.3 billion on roads and not a penny on a new rail outside Dublin;
almost every village and green field in Leinster (and elsewhere) seems to be regarded by local authorities as fair game for development as car-dependent satellites of Dublin (or other cities)? - Yours, etc.,
Michael Smith, Chairman, An Taisce, Tailors Hall, Dublin 8.