DAVE Christian (Letters, 3rd November) quotes some factoids in order to claim that scientists are wrong about global warming.

His assertions may be true or false, and – unlike the scientists – he has not made the measurements himself and is reliant on the claims of others. 

He does not mention many other pieces of evidence for global warming, such as the extraordinary melting of Arctic ice this year with temperatures in those regions currently 20C above the norm, or the death of parts of the Australian barrier reef due to rising sea temperatures and carbon dioxide levels, or the creeping desertification of parts of Africa as temperatures rise and turns farmers into refugees. 

Scientists cannot get away with ignoring the complete picture in that way, because science is a competitive world where scientists challenge each others’ theories and gain a reputation by showing that they have done a better job of analysing factual data than their rivals. 

So the fact that almost all the scientists who study the issue agree that global warming is real and man-made should tell us something, just as scientists agree that the earth is round – discrediting the mediaeval theory that it is flat. 

As citizens we don’t deny scientific evidence when we ask doctors to cure our loved ones, or when we rely on science to ensure that the plane we are boarding is as safe as possible. 

Yet there is a big and well-funded attempt to deny the science of global warming when its conclusions threaten vested interests.

Christopher Clayton, Address supplied.