HAVING a background in the field of meteorology I cannot let the letter concerning global warming (Viewpoint, July 13) go by without response.

The recent fall in global temperature he/she talks of is from a peak in 1998 which coincided with a powerful El Nino event (very warm pacific surface sea temperatures). Drawing a graph from 1998 to now does not encompass global warming changes that happen over decades/centuries.

A dip in global temperatures will still happen at times, as will the occasional cold winter in these isles, such as the one just passed. Elsewhere, other normally cold climes had a mild winter. Canada had temperatures 4C above normal, with the arctic warmer too.

Actually, latest data shows the Jan-June period this year was the warmest on record.

Considering such a statement as "As I sat freezing, I wondered why we were fighting global warming. Surely it would be better to be warmer in winter and thus save energy" and "The Labour government, on a day when it was snowing, passed the climate change act …", it takes a particularly unscientific mind to judge such life changing events in the light of cold/snowy weather outside the window, to say nothing of the ignorance of how calamitous the consequences of global warming could be – drought, floods, famine, rising seas and major disruption of humanity.

Finally, does not the evidence of your own eyes not tell you something is amiss? The advance of spring by the best part of two weeks over the last 30 years, invading insects/flora from warmer climes – and abroad, as well as thinning arctic ice and melting glaciers.

The scientific consensus is that CO2 caused by man is the likely cause and surely the precautionary principle rules here, the consequences being so dire for future generations should we do nothing.

Name and address supplied.