THE madness of the human race, and especially “developed” countries, is surely greater than that of the lemmings (Bali deal leaves greens in despair, News, Focus and Comment, last week). Not until we have farsighted and determined leadership capable of making people change their way of life can we have any chance of satisfactorily tackling global warming.

Our world is being killed by gas-guzzling cars and lorries, cheap air travel, runner beans and potatoes from Egypt and strawberries from America.

Bryan Rogers

Llandysul, Ceredigion

GREEN TAXES: As Jonathan Leake stated in his Comment article on the Bali summit (A lungful of carbon delusion), the current problem is compounded by increasing demand, which must be curbed. One way is by increasing the cost of energy, as cheap energy is coming to an end, but I fear our politicians will see it a reason to increase taxes under the “green” bandwagon.

I am astounded that future population predictions are not reported as an impending disaster. We must stop sticking our heads in the sand.

Terry Graham

Darlington

MAKE A START IN THE UK: Let’s sort out our own country first. More and larger airports, subsidised fuel for low-cost airlines, rail fares that force people to drive: this is madness at a time when we need to reduce our carbon footprint. So is the environment lobby’s opposition to nuclear energy.

Consistent travel policies that make public transport an attractive alternative to the car and plane, and sustainable energy, must be the answer. It’s time we had joined-up thinking.

Bill Allum

Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire

CARBON STRATEGIES: It’s very easy to dismiss each means of tackling climate change individually. However, this is not about choice; it’s about needing to do everything.

If we conserve energy, build nuclear power stations and carbon sequestration into new coal-fired power stations, as well as plant trees, these measures will have a massive impact on carbon emissions.

Deryk King

Toronto, Canada

CHILDFREE BENEFIT: Sir Paul McCartney (Letters) is incorrect. The single most effective act in saving the planet is not to have children. The footprints of those who do will be left for millennia, however green their descendants may become.

Michael Quinlan

Monaco

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