Climate change

Even if one were to accept the claim by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that the “Earth is warming up but not as rapidly as predicted” (Sept. 5), the grim reality is that the damage caused by global warming is irreversible. Mindless exploitation of natural resources and excessive dependence on fossil fuels have made sustainable economic development elusive.

M. Jeyaram,

Sholavandan

Global warming may not be happening as rapidly as predicted but the reality is it is happening and will have an adverse impact on humans. The fact that the warming rate has slowed down does not mean it has stopped. We have been filling the atmosphere with carbon dioxide — by burning fossil fuels that were once below the Earth’s surface. With the world’s population projected to reach nine billion by 2050, there will be major changes in the carbon cycle, food availability, etc.

H.N. Ramakrishna,

Bangalore