Thomas M Murphy:

It does not "stand to reason" that moving the earth closer to the sun will make it warm significantly. The reason why you are warmer at the equator than at the poles - the example you cite - has almost nothing to do with being closer to the sun, and is largely to do with the angle of incidence of the sun's rays.

Tom Gilchrist, London,

Why is it that we never discuss the actual cause of global warming? It's the sun, stupid! Some of us even go south to get warm in the winter.

Professor Giegengack of the University of Pennsylvania has written extensively on the orbital mechanics of the solar system explaining that the gravitational pull of the planets can move the earth's orbit away or closer to the sun. If driving 1,500 miles to the south can change the temperature by 35 degrees fahrenheit, then pulling the earth a few hundred miles closer to the sun probably produces the same result.

The gloom and doom crowd totally disregards cause and effect. Correlation is all they need. Increased CO2 levels do not cause global warming. Global warming permits the CO2 levels to rise. Ask any scientist.

Thomas M. Murphy, Rockaway Point, New York

It's not global warming. It's solar (sun) warming - and it affects Mars, Jupiter and Saturn as well as Earth. Think on...

Terry Daly, London, UK

"Yes, global warming is a reality. Yes, it is caused in significant part by human activity and, yes, much of that is the result of the production of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide. " Does not really sound "questioning of climate change" to me.

Has anyone else noticed how our green lobby routinely trade in high emotion and higher rhetoric whilst avoiding specifics and solutions? Language betrays all - "disgrace", "reckless and mindless", "monumentally stupid". Maybe I am jaundiced but all I can hear is angry young men shouting "its obvious" "I could do better" "stop ignoring me""we don't have time for this debate, lets act!" "you don't agree with me so you must be corrupt" .

The wiser (older) contributors are asking "What specifically are you proposing?". This article is a good case in point. It is simply pointing out that there are no easy solutions. Indeed many of the proposed solutions would be worse than the current threats (yes something could be worse!!).

Noah, Knutsford, UK

One of the nice things about data as compared with opinion is that it's jolly hard to argue against. As the data on global warming accumulate the opinions that it's not real or that we shouldn't worry about it become progressively harder to maintain. It's a brick wall that's rapidly approaching, the passengers have noticed even though the driver insists it's not really there, hence the desire to wrench the steering wheel from the driver. The economic costs (as if that were the only measure of value) of not doing something far outweigh the costs of doing something. Someone has to do something, even if it's not perfect it's better than doing nothing and as the consequences pile up more countries will realise that it's in their own interests to reduce CO2 emissions.

John Small, Faversham, UK

Why is it that we never talk about the actual cause of global warming? It's the sun! Some of us even go south to get warm in the winter.

Professor Giegengack of the University of Pennsylvania has written extensively on the subject of orbital mechanics and how the gravitational pull of the planets can change the earth's orbit, sometimes pushing us out away from the sun and sometimes moving the earth in closer to the sun. If driving 1,500 miles to the south can produce a 35 degree fahrenheit change, it stands to reason that moving the entire earth a few hundred miles closer to the sun is bound to produce warming.

The doom and gloom crowd have no concept of cause and effect. They think correlation is all that matters. Increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere do not cause global warming! Global warming, however, does permit the atmosphere to accept higher levels of CO2. Ask any scientist.

Thomas M. Murphy, Rockaway Point, New York

Its funny how the people who said global warming didn't exist, then said it did exist but i wasn't the fault of humans are now the ones who say there's no point in doing anything about it anyway! (usually the same people who claim a 'war' on terror IS winable)

Alex, leeds,

re: Sanjeev Dheer of Dehli, India -

Yes, but when will INDIA be "changing its mind" and signing on to emissions targets and reductions?

Never.

thanks

R.B. Glennie, Ottawa, Canada

Splutter into your corn flakes if you must but, have you actually considered that Bush might actually be right? Even he cannot be wrong all of the time.

On a side matter for European opinion, what will happen if/when the anthropogenic global warming hypothesis and its absurd empasis on Carbon Dioxide rather than population is proven to be a load of hot air? Will we be then entitled to a refund of all the 'green' taxes that have been raised by Brown, Merkell et al ?

Brian Vallance, LEFKIMMI, Greece

This article is complete hogwash. Why do people still question climate change? Why do people still place economic short term targets ahead of saving the planet - are we still selfish even when we know the long term consequences?

It is a disgrace that the USA has caved in to lobby groups such as Detroit carmakers whose cars are put to shame by Toyota/Honda. Global warming will be Bush's legacy even more than Iraq, and history will not treat him kindly. Fortunately history will forget Gerard Baker...

Jonathan, Sydney, Australia

The UK has just had its warmest spring since 1945. The planet Venus does not have a magnetic field and it's atmosphere is consequently selectively eroded by the solar wind. To compare the climate change of Venus to that of the Earth is misguided. Climate change is a natural thing and so is political dogma. Europe will bankrupt itself trying to control the climate while the developing countries carry on building their economies. Who needs to be worried about the threat of terrorism when the greater threat to our wellbeing lies with our politicians?

Adrianjs, Farnborough, UK

"Have you noticed, by the way, that Europeans like to sneer at the US for being antiscience and replacing the rule of reason with Biblical fundamentalism?"

Yes, that's because the Bush administration and it's supporters (such as yourself) have for years tried to claim that climate change does not exist. This was monumentally stupid thing to do.

Even in admitting the truth, you still can't bring yourself to be nice to other people, can you?

Owen, London, UK

The threat of Global warming has at last changed the heart and thoughts of Prez Bush. For years together, he either took an Oestrich approach to evade the problem, albeit accepting it as a global threat for our man kind , or else putting the blame on nature and its fickle changes in making. Putting forth his proposal ahead of G8 summit, is a right step taken in right direction , provided it is implemented in its letter and spirit. We are all responsible for emission of green house gases, overusage of fossilised fuel , reckless and mindless deforestation. We are denuding our planet of its vital natural resources and converting our tropical jungles and green lungs into jungles of concrete, bricks and mortars. Emission of nuclear wastes and non-degradable garbage like plastics, polymers etc. creates cracks and slits in our atmospheric ozone layers.Global warming is a man made gift , causing famines,deluge and tsunamis with freak weather conditions.It's time to wake up, or else regret!!!

Sanjeev Dheer, New Delhi, India