Byline: KEITH BUDDEN

Dear Editor, - In reply to your editorial entitled "The Big Question" (Post, May 4) concerning climate change, I feel it necessary to respond to the fundamental issue regarding the validity of global warming and "whether it actually exists at all".

There is now a clear consensus from the scientific community that confirms that the reality of global warming is now "overwhelming" and that it is caused by "man-made" emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. The UK chief scientist has described climate change as a greater threat than global terrorism. All national and local political leaders agree with the scientific evidence.

The consequences of this are indeed "global", impacting upon all social, economic and environmental aspects of life, with potentially disastrous effects. The increase in the occurrence of freak weather will have a direct impact upon life in Birmingham - more flash floods, more heavy winds and more tornados. However the impact of rising sea levels in developing countries such as Bangladesh will result in a significant loss of life.

While individual contributions are necessary and do make a difference, it is ultimately the implementation of local, national and international agreements which will deliver a collective solution to this global problem.

The success of the 1989 Montreal agreement in preventing the use of ozone depleting gases demonstrates that international agreements can work. Since its introduction, the hole in the ozone layer has started to decrease and it is estimated will be "repaired" in the next ten years. …