I simply cannot allow the letter from the climate change sceptic, David Lewis of Porthcawl, to go unchallenged.

Mr Lewis is typical of the sort of science sceptics who question evolution by natural selection; the extent of the holocaust; and the shape of the Earth. The science is established and incontrovertible – human activity, in a wide range of fields, is contributing to accelerated global warming. It may be a bit too complicated for Mr Lewis to get his head around and may not be happening quite quickly enough (the timescales involved are tricky for small minds to grapple with) for him to be prepared to acknowledge it as a problem to him in his cosy little world, but denying facts in no way changes facts. You do not achieve a balanced debate, Mr Lewis, by countering well-grounded scientific research with ill-informed drivel.

He probably has enjoyed watching self-publicising buffoons like Lord Christopher Monckton on television recently preaching his pseudo-scientific nonsense, rather than spent his time, rather less entertainingly, wading through the decades’ worth of mountains of properly scrutinised and endorsed peer review research by proper climate scientists.

The fact that it makes people feel better about themselves to deny the evidence, and carry on as ever they have without a sense of guilt, is exactly the attitude that allowed the holocaust to happen and that allowed churches to burn scientists as heretics.

The one thing that I thoroughly agree with Mr Lewis on is the importance of children, in fact everyone, questioning everything and demanding evidence to support claims they are asked to accept. This way we have a hope of ridding the world of superstitious nonsense and self-interested purveyors of cultivated ignorance.

For those that still cannot be bothered to do the due diligence, think on this. If the climate scientists are wrong, what will be the consequences for the world? Now compare this scenario with the consequences of the climate change sceptics being wrong. This ought to scare people out of their complacency. However, complacency is the order of the day in too many corridors of power and we are probably doomed to contending with serious consequences in my lifetime, and certainly my children’s lifetime.

I hope Mr Lewis and his Lordship are around long enough to perhaps say “Oops, sorry!” as high tides lap at the door of the Ancient Briton one day.
 
Andy Chyba
Bridgend Green Party