READING the comments attached under a media story about the US and China signing an agreement to reduce carbon emissions, I found the usual bitter diatribes from climate change deniers and contrarians.

The funny thing is that their interventions are so pointless. What are they afraid of? Why does the act of creating employment by making homes more energy efficient, thereby saving money and alleviating fuel poverty, terrify the living daylights out of climate change deniers?

Are we to imagine that they sit at home with their fridge doors and windows open just to be able to waste a little more energy and money?

Why are they so afraid of a world moving on from fossil fuels? Do they lovingly cuddle little puddles of oil and mounds of coal in their homes?

Why on earth do they resent or resist powering a car or a home differently?

Would this same bunch of naysayers have been found at the side of the road at the end of the 19th century, screaming abuse at electric streetlights and shouting for gas lamps to be retained?

Never has so much venom and angst been expended so pointlessly.

Christian Vassie, Blake Court, Wheldrake, York.