As one of those involved in the Climate Change protests in London I am staggered by Geoff Robb’s dismissive tone (‘Rebellion is just more Project Fear’, Letters, April 23). Climate Change protestors are involved in a project more accurately described as Project ‘Tell the Truth on Climate Change’.

Climate change is not a little political dispute. Scientists predictions of the consequences of us burning fossil fuels and pumping millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere are being lived out already in more and more extreme climate events. If we do not take radical action permanent changes will follow. Sea levels will rise significantly making huge areas of the world uninhabitable. Vast swathes of the semi desert areas of the world, particularly in Africa, will no longer support human life. The weather patterns we rely on to produce crops will change massively and may make growing enough food for humans unachievable. Huge numbers of animal and plants species that cannot easily migrate or spread will go extinct. These truths are not part of Project Fear but Project Fact.

We know that if we are to keep these impacts to manageable levels individual actions will be needed but more importantly local national and international actions (including governments restraining the behaviour of big business). Given how poorly governments have managed many other challenges it is easy to be despondent.

The climate change protestors are stepping outside the denial and passivity that fear can induce and moving to a constructive, hopeful and urgent call to action.

Adam Myers,

Kilburn Road, York

Climate views based on reliable research

I wonder who Geoff Robb thinks he is (‘Rebellion’ is just more Project Fear, Letters, April 23) in describing as ‘ridiculous’ Extinction Rebellion’s observation that we’re facing an existential threat?

After all, Extinction Rebellion are just using the extremely conservative peer-reviewed science gathered by scientists representing every government around the planet - the IPCC - who told us last year that we had just 12 years to reverse our greenhouse gas emissions or face catastrophic climate collapse which would likely put an end to civilisation as we know it, and potentially result in human extinction.

Maybe Geoff doesn’t understand ‘existential’ - it means that climate change, if we continue with business as usual, could cause us to not exist. Maybe he doesn’t care, as his head is comfortable in the sand, but I do know that the younger generations, the likes of our grandchildren maybe, are judging us, and are angry with the likes of Geoff.

I was also pleased to note your editorial on the same page about the council’s vote to declare a Climate Emergency and go zero carbon by 2030. This will be an extremely challenging process but we can rise to that and see it as an opportunity to take a long hard look at our lives, our communities, and what’s really important to us, and to work together to try to find solutions.

John Cossham

Green Party Candidate for Hull Road Ward,

Hull Road, York

Idiots wrecked break for many in London

I hope everybody had a good Easter, but I suspect many will have had their break unnecessarily interrupted with travel difficulties. Many idiots decided to bring the capital to a standstill by chaining themselves to objects, but why did they bother?

If you want to bring chaos and misery to London all they need do is vote for Sadiq Khan again.

For those like me who thought the trouble being caused in London was a disgrace that should have been dealt with in a much tougher way by the police, consider this.

The A64 also had the usual travel chaos, but this wasn’t caused by the local Green Party candidates out to get attention by being arrested. It happens every bank holiday weekend because of the failure of the incumbent local politicians to get the roads sorted.

Just bear that in mind when deciding who to vote for next week. Vote for the same people as last time and you’ll get the same disruption next year.

The classic excuse they will all use is that they haven’t got the money to do anything about it. On the plus side, and on a totally unrelated issue, Paul Hepworth now has a new £4 million bridge to facilitate easier cycling over the River Ouse.

Dr Scott Marmion, Woodthorpe, York