Regarding Norman Williams’ letter of 21 April, Mr Williams asserts that “…it is not carbon dioxide that causes global warming, but global warming…that results in the higher levels of carbon dioxide.”
He is half right. In fact, increased CO2 levels cause warming, and warming also triggers the release of CO2. At various times in history temperature has ‘lagged’ behind carbon dioxide release and vice-versa.
At the moment we are in a period where CO2 is driving temperature up, but if we do not curb our carbon emissions soon, the increased temperatures will trigger release of greenhouse gas and give us no control over the warming of the planet.
Mr Williams then goes on to state that “…increasing carbon dioxide levels should be lauded…” and that because CO2 makes up a small fraction of the atmosphere it is only a “very small player” in moderating temperature. These assertions are not hard to ‘fact-check’ — five minutes on the internet will bring up several peer-reviewed papers that strongly refute these claims.
Mr Williams asserts that climate science and the “carbon footprint talk”, which holds a body of evidence from more than 2500 contributing scientists, reviewed by representatives from more than 140 countries, and is agreed on by 99 per cent of all climate scientists, is a “hoax”.
Port Macquarie residents often tell me they desperately want to do something to stop climate change and see a bright future for Australia with a clean energy economy, thousands of new jobs, better public transport and the continuation of our incredible tourism industry across a well-preserved Mid-North Coast. I urge everyone in our community to get on board and help turn this bright future into a reality.
Luke Marshall
