THE INDEPENDENT

Letters: Climate chaos

Published: 19 January 2006

New generation is inheriting a world of climate chaos

Sir: I'm 14 and have just started my GCSEs. I'm being prepared for my future. I've got my whole life ahead of me. I want the chance to be something, to make a difference. I want to see the world, but that chance is being snatched away from me, along with the rest of my generation.

Whilst we grow up our planet is being destroyed. As the cities of the world pour out more and more greenhouse gases, the time we have to save our world for the future is slipping away. It's no longer a matter of saving the coral reefs and rainforests so your children can enjoy these natural wonders, it's a matter of stopping climate change so your children and grand- children can enjoy any sort of life at all.

On Monday you reported James Lovelock's announcement that it was already too late. "We are past the point of no return," he said. We have to hope that he's wrong and we still have a little more time. But even if we do still have a chance, it's our very last one and we have to make it work this time. I hope that Lovelock's shocking statements will finally wake everyone up to the reality of our situation.

If we are going to change our ways we need world leaders to lead the way. George Bush is the leader of the country that contributes the most greenhouse gas and he has only just admitted that climate change is being caused by human actions. His (and others') failure to act is plunging the human race into a climate catastrophe.

All world leaders would agree on the importance of education in giving us all the opportunity to lead great lives. But how many would be prepared to change their policies to give the next generation the opportunity to live in a world free from freak storms, rising seas, growing desert and mass extinction?

The next generation is being handed a world of climate chaos spiralling out of control.

ISABELLE ELLIS-COCKCROFT

STROUD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE