In response to Bill Rees’ recent letter about Dorset Council’s Climate Emergency consultation, surely when deciding on an action or taking no action it is necessary to consider the associated risks and benefits.

Quoting directly from Dorset Council’s consultation: ‘Time is short–We (the world) are emitting 55 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. Scientists estimate that if we emitted no more than a further total of 580 billion tonnes, this would give us just a 50% chance of keeping within 1.5°C Therefore, we have only around 10 years at the current rate, within which serious action is required to avert this crisis and avoid the worst impacts’.

In simple language that means if we continue to emit carbon dioxide at the current rate for another 10 years we would need to stop all global emissions instantly after that and still face a 50% chance of exceeding a global temperature rise above 1.5°C.

As David Attenborough stated in his current TV series Perfect Planet, the earth has maintained an average constant temperature within 1.0°C for the last 10,000 years and much of the natural world depends on this climate stability.

It is morally and ethically wrong for us to do nothing and place the consequences of climate change on future generations.

I would urge readers to play a small part and complete Dorset Council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency consultation online before the deadline of January 20.

PETE WEST

Salisbury Street, Dorchester