Eminent specialists at work — not mad scientists

IT is apparent that Dr Colmán Etchingham (Letters, March 25) has not bothered to familiarise himself with either the history of the formation of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) or with the detail of its work and method of operation.

If he had done so, he would not be so dismissive of its “luminaries”.

Climatologists first began to suspect that man might be having an impact on the global climate more than 30 years ago.

In 1979, the first world climate conference was organised by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). Resulting from that, and ongoing research, the IPCC was formed in 1998 by the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), the WMO and UN member governments worldwide. Top scientists from almost every field were recruited and, in 1990, the first assessment report was produced to be followed others in 1995, 2001 and 2007.

These reports are not the work of a few mad scientists with an axe to grind. They contain all the known and proven scientific, technical and socio-economic data related to climate and identify potential impacts with possible mitigation and adaptation strategies.

The reports are the work of thousands of the world’s most eminent specialists in their fields of interest. In the history of humanity there has never been such an intensive, comprehensive, sustained and focused intellectual dissection of a subject by so many learned people.

Independent scientists have spent the past 30 years studying this subject because there is a consensus (which is hardening with every passing day) that the future of humanity and the world depends on it. The head of the IPCC has been reported as saying we have up to three years to start making significant reductions in carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions in order to have any prospect of preventing runaway climate change when carbon sinks become carbon emitters.

It is important to have an open mind, but I am amazed that any academic would seek to discredit the vast amount of scientific data from so many sources and disciplines. He does a disservice to mankind and planet earth.

Dr Philip Michael

Chairman

Irish Doctors Environmental Association

Millbrook Medical Centre

Bandon

Co Cork