Climate control

I applaud Peter Jones’s “Petrolheads can save the planet” article (Perspective, 8 April), which raised his concerns over health effects in the petrol versus diesel debate.

It is refreshing to read the work of someone who has delved into the technical details.

By exploring the issues to this extent we all benefit, because it provides people with facts about transport rather than wishful thinking and it makes people aware that things have to change.

Some of the issues raised around potential harm to health need much discussion and an informed and open debate would be very welcome.

But what is missing from his fuel model is the part that electric vehicles have to play in the mix.

Electric vehicles have progressed immensely over the past few years and the majority of car manufacturers are investing billions of pounds to improve the driver experience, performance of the car and, crucially, the range to which they can travel on a single charge.

Alongside this, the number of charging points is increasing around the world as we are slowly seeing a shift towards these vehicles as a viable alternative.

Electric vehicles are here to stay, but for the wider health benefits to be realised in Scotland, it will take a step change in government policy to drive down fossil fuel pollution, which in turn will improve the health outcomes for the nation. Scotland has the potential to lead in green infrastructure policy and to do that brave, robust and evidenced-based decisions need to be made – and quickly.

Caroline Jones Carrick

TEV Project

Prestwick

Roy Turnbull (Letters, 8 April) should re-read my short note (Letters, 5 April). I was questioning, not suggesting, that we could control climate and illustrated this by one instance of “poking it with sticks”.

I like his idea of not attempting to control climate but to simply constrain it.

The instances of undesirable consequences of human activity are myriad: we even have a phrase, “the law of unforeseen circumstances”, for this.

Climate change as a result of industrialisation coupled with huge population growth has spawned a mighty academic and commercial industry.

Mr Turnbull must be almost unique in his opinion that to suggest any such future unforeseen occurrence “lacks any credibility”.

(Dr) A McCormick

Kirkland Road

Dumfries