Madam, - Dr William Reville (Science Today, August 14th) claims there is a growing view among scientists that global warming is not driven by human activities.#
On the contrary, this view is shrinking rapidly in the face of overwhelming evidence.
The first scientist mentioned in support of this case is the eminent Freeman J. Dyson. Dr Reville is correct in saying that Dyson has criticised the accuracy of the modelling methods used for predicting the effects of climate change, but he neglects to say that Dyson still fully supports the view that climate change is primarily caused by human activities.
Dr Reville then goes on to refer to reports produced by the US Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP), which contradict those of the IPCC. The SEPP was founded by the well-known climate change sceptic Dr Fred Singer.
It is at best a fringe organisation, which does not formally publish its research findings, and whose views should be considered in the context of the political leanings of its backers and associates, many of whom are from the energy industry. This hardly represents any sort of "growing view" among scientists.
Fred Singer, by the way, was also a leading light in the campaign to deny the link between second-hand smoke and lung cancer. I will leave your readers to draw their own conclusions from that. - Yours, etc,
HUGH McCABE,
Rialto Drive,
Dublin 8.