From: "Wallace, Helen" To: "'t.mcmichael@lshtm.ac.uk'" , "'m.hulme@uea.ac.uk'" Subject: Letter Date: Thu, 21 Aug 1997 18:21:04 +0100 Dear Tony and Michael, The final draft of the letter to the Times is attached, incorperating your changes (I hope I have combined them in a way that you are both happy with). Brian Hoskins and Adrian Jenkins have both decided that they prefer not to sign the letter, although agreeing with its message. I haven't been able to contact anyone else in the short time available, so I leave it up to you to decide whether you are still both happy to go ahead. If so, Mike could you please reply to both Tony and myself and let us know, and Tony could you then send it as agreed? Thank you both very much for your time and trouble. Best regards, Helen Dr Helen Wallace Senior Scientist Greenpeace UK Greenpeace, Canonbury Villas, London, N1 2PN Tel: +44-171-865-8241 Fax: +44-171-865-8202 --------------------------- FINAL DRAFT Letters Editor The Times Fax: 0171-782-5046 Email: letters@the-times.co.uk 21 June 1997 Dear Sir, Without wishing to comment on the dispute between BP and Greenpeace (Editorial, 20 August), we would like to remind your readers of the seriousness of the potential threat caused by our continued use of fossil fuels. This damage occurs both locally - as evidenced by the deterioration of air quality in UK cities in the past few weeks - and also globally. As scientists studying the impacts of climate change, we consider the global threat from greenhouse gases to be serious and to need addressing. Adverse effects on human populations are likely to result from changes in weather patterns, shifts in storm frequencies, rises in sea level and the spread of certain pests and infectious diseases. A wide variety of ecosystems throughout the world will be at increasing risk. We have little idea whether or not we can manage such adverse effects and therefore the prudent course of action is to limit the cause of the threat. Major shifts in investment away from fossil fuels will therefore be required to make the necessary reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Large companies like British Petroleum seem to us to be well placed to take an active part in investing in these changes. There is no doubt the need for precautionary, preventative action is urgent. Yours sincerely, Prof. A.J. McMichael London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine University of London Keppel Street London WC1E 7HT Dr. M. Hulme Climatic Research Unit University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ