SADLY Angela O?Brien is correct (Letters January 13) that money will always determine environmental decisions. I was however a little surprised not to see a greater response to Phil Allen?s letter ?The earth has always had climate change?. Its perhaps mildly intemperate style should not be reason to dismiss it out of hand. There is good evidence to support the view that rising sea level in the South East is mainly due to unloading and relaxation of the earth?s mantle since the last ice age. Phil Allen is also correct is suggesting that estimates of future global warming are based on unprovable models ? some of which support the opposite process of global cooling! But unassailable proof is virtually impossible to obtain when dealing with such complex interactions. What is undeniable is that temperature rise in high latitudes has closely followed increasing carbon dioxide levels since the industrial revolution and it would be very foolish to ignore such a coincidence. However, the present efforts of governments to combat global warming seem equally foolish when you consider the future potentially vast carbon dioxide output of emerging industrial economies in Asia, China and Eastern Europe. Few of these are able to afford (even if they should wish) to place carbon dioxide emission high on the agenda in the foreseeable future. Even fewer will tackle the more important problems of over-population and ever increasing expectation for improved living standards. On past performance the best we can expect is that governments and environmentalists alike will continue Don Quixote like, to tilt at windmills ? or should it be wind turbines, in the debate to solve energy problems. Tony Milward 1 Fulford Cottages Crockernwell
