Letters to the Editor – Mark Adams – May ’25
Dear Editor,
Climate change – the last word
In response once again to Steve Needless – sorry, Needham – I’d firstly, in all seriousness, like to thank him for taking the time to compose a ‘follow up letter’ published in last month’s edition of the Kibworth & District Chronicle.
Whereas I am wholly in support of his personal crusade to ‘resurrect’ your letters page this Easter and acknowledge the gratitude of the Editorial team “for helping to reignite our once lively correspondence page”, I’d nonetheless contend that such incendiary and inflammatory, uninformed populist viewpoints need not be kindled and stoked in order to achieve this aim.
As social media platforms and, increasingly, politicians of the so called ‘post-truth’ era such as Donald Trump rampantly promote and share misinformation, the concept of free speech risks becoming meaningless because their conflation of fact and fiction eradicates the underlying principle of appropriate usage on which free speech depends. As Daniel Patrick Moynihan once said, ‘You are entitled to your opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts.’ Two millennia ago, stoic philosophy sagely warned of the dangers of subjectivism: ‘Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.’ Yes, Steve, you are entitled to air your opinion. But if it is ill-informed and fallacious, don’t react with indignation when you are challenged.
The scientific method invites objective observation, experimentation, analysis, independent verification and reproducibility as opposed to subjective opinion or belief. It is contingent upon evidence and data to support claims, rather than our personal feelings or biases. Nature does not care one iota about our opinions (mine or yours, Steve). And the tragically preventable current measles epidemic in West Texas is a stark reminder of this.
To clarify again, anthropogenic climate change is a scientifically established fact, not a matter of opinion. Climatologists may dispute the rate of acceleration, but since systematic scientific assessments began in the 1970s, the influence of human activity on the warming of the climate system is found to be ineluctable and irrefutable. “Stop worrying, say no to net zero and get on enjoying your life.” Really, Steve? We are the first generation to acutely feel the effects of climate change and very probably the last generation who can do something about it.
Yes, I do concede that the transition to net zero does initially present significant energy-related challenges and vulnerabilities. But it also offers significant opportunities to enhance energy security and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Intrinsic to its success is a well-managed, phased adjustment and careful evaluation of the potential impacts on various sectors and individuals.
Finally, in respect of perceived ‘pseudointellectualism’ and his accusation of a ‘rant’, I suggest that he looks no further than the frankly absurd claims made together with the polemical posturing in his initial letter published in issue 466.
Mark Adams
Arit Anderson in Conversation at Wistow
