Sir, – John Gibbons’s article (Opinion, Septemebr 23rd) would have you believe the planet is facing oblivion. However, it omitted to mention that the IPCC’s forthcoming ARP5 (Fifth Assessment Report) accepts there has been a reduction in the warming trend from 1998 to 2012. It would appear the IPCC is unable to fully explain this reduction, citing several possibilities – none of which is definitive. This reduction, despite the increases due to CO2, surely indicates that IPCC’s predictions are questionable to say the least and at most point to its inability to arrive at believable ones based on its computer modelling. Despite somewhat arguable consensus frequently quoted by the media, there are many scientists and climate experts who do not accept the IPCC’s dire predictions on the climate.
Such an alarmist attitude as adopted in this article is surely unnecessary and indeed irresponsible until it can be established with far more acceptable levels of accuracy than heretofore that the planet is heading for disaster. History is full of such doom-laden predictions that never materialised – and no doubt we’ll have more in the future. – Yours, etc,
PATRICK COOKE,
Willowsand,
Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford.