Madam, - The report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is most welcome. One hopes it will end any debate about the reality of global warming and its cause: man-made greenhouse gas emissions.
What has not received much media attention is the combined impact of continued human population growth and global warming. Currently, the UN estimates that the human population is increasing by 1 billion every 13 years, from 6 billion in 1999. Not surprisingly, IPCC analyses predict that if the human population does not peak by mid-century, there will be the risk of further increases in global warming by the year 2100.
In addition to the clear need to focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, there needs also to be a focus on stabilising population at sustainable levels which allow improved living standards for all without destroying the environment.
Otherwise, the demand for limited natural resources will increase, resulting in, for example, water shortages for millions of people and the increased risk of food crop failures.
What can this country do to address these global challenges? Firstly, there is no reason why Ireland could not be a world leader in the renewable energy sector, harnessing wind, wave, tidal, and hydro-power to meet the majority of our energy needs, and indeed becoming a net energy exporter.
Secondly, Irish aid could be used to assist developing countries to develop sustainable agricultural practices and water conservation measures to maximise food security.
In addition, our aid could be used to provide additional education and healthcare that provide people with the information and services they need to make informed choices on reproductive health and family planning. - Yours, etc,
Dr LF LACEY, Skerries, Co Dublin.
Madam, - The first part of the fourth report of the IPCC report on climate change states, with 90 per cent certainty, that global warming is caused by humans and if we continue with "business as usual" the consequences will be serious if not catastrophic during this century.
The panel has warned governments that they must take urgent action if irreversible damage is to be avoided. Subsequent parts of the report will deal with other aspects of the problem, and will include proposals for the types of preventive action that should be taken.
But we don't need to wait for the panel to tell us what must be done. We in this country should be seriously discussing ways of reducing drastically our output of greenhouse gases - especially as, per capita, we are among the worst emitting countries.
We, members of BENE (a Better Environment with Nuclear Energy) urge that in such discussions earnest consideration should be given to the important role that nuclear energy can and must play.
We call on all of the political parties to commit themselves to a realistic and properly informed debate on the potential contribution from nuclear energy. - Yours, etc,
D DUFF, BE, Greystones, Co Wicklow; IR McAULAY, MA, PhD, FInst P, Shankill, Co Dublin; M MORRISSEY-CUMMINS, Greystones; D SOWBY, MD, FSRP, Knocksinna Crescent, Dublin 18; J STAFFORD BBS, MA, FCA, Knocklyon, Dublin 16; FJA TURVEY, C Eng, FIEI, FIAE, FINucE, FinstP, Greystones; PW WALTON, BA (Mod), Ph.D, C.Phys., F.Inst.P., C.Eng., F.IET., Moycullen, Co Galway.