"The trouble is there is a big vested interest from Governments and scientific bodies (new ways to tax us/funding for research) in perpetuating the scenario of man's effect on the climate."

I find it quite astonishing that anyone could seriously put forward the argument that governments and scientific bodies are deliberately talking up the effects of our activities on the earth's climate in order to raise more money for taxes and research.

The truth is that none of us - unless we are climatologists or are working in a related scientific field - have much more than a scant knowledge about the complexities of the planet's climate systems to make informed judgements.

Most people base their opinions on what they've read in the media, and there's a lot of knee-jerk "I am not convinced by the arguments of the green lobby." stuff.

All of us are and will be affected by changes in our climate, and all of us should have the sense to realise that the activities of generations of polluters and exploiters have had a detectable effect on our planet's ecosystems. You only have to look at the rate of extinctions of species to realise that.

Saying that 'I'm just going to carry on behaving as I always have'is just daft - partly because it reveals a sad lack of interest in what happens outside your own small world, and partly because you won't be able to do it. Rising fuel and food costs will impact on almost everyone as time goes on, and as people age, and enter fixed income territory that impact will become even greater. Where climate change is concerned we really are all in this together, regardless of what causes the problems.

"As a result the type of semi-hysteria promulgated by some in governments and pressure groups can only waste effort and money and make life a little more miserable for the vast majority."

On the other hand.....

It might make life a little less miserable for the huge numbers of people who are currently suffering the effects of climate change to a far greater degree than anyone in this country could ever imagine.

The world doesn't stop on the British beaches you know.

How can one argue with the facts- man is the main cause of C02 increase:

http://www.esr.org/outreach/climatechange/mansimpact/man1.html

http://www.atmosphere.mpg.de/enid/basics/1Man-madeclimatechange1w4.html

Also the ozone layer is damaged by man made aerosols. Carbon capture ar power stations is a major thing that could and should be given priority.

Forum Editor

I find it quite astonishing that you would be so astonished! Governments will use any excuse to squeeze more tax from it's long suffering populations. See this article from the Daily Mail in July this year The Green tax Con!

As for the fact that we will all be affected by climate change, yes we probably will! I have agreed that the climate is changing, I just disagree about that change being caused by mankind.

I intend to carry on as normal as I have already stated because there is nothing that you or I can do to affect the climate, even supposing that we should want to! I am sure it is very unfortunate for the likes of people living in the Seychelles that there islands will be overtaken by rising sea levels but I fail to comprehend how the restriction of my use of 100 watt light bulbs is going to save the Seychellois from a watery fate!