I was astounded to read Sir Sydney Chapman's article on how "we must save the planet" (Soapbox, Times Group, August 15).

He expresses support for sustainable development policies', such as those coming out of the Kyoto summit to reduce carbon and other harmful emissions. And he puts his support behind another key target of the laudable 20/20' vision of providing 20 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by the year 2020.

Nobody could disagree with such sentiments, you might think. Except for Sir Sydney's own Tory front bench. For instance, in a recent speech to the right-wing Adam Smith Institute, Oliver Letwin, the Conservative home affairs spokesman, claimed that simplistic targets' were exceptionally destructive' and asserted that he was against what he claimed was crude intervention'.

So the question for Sir Sydney Chapman must be is his stance on saving the planet supported by the Tory Party in (and outside of) Parliament? Or is it, like the greenhouse gases he claims to be against, just so much hot air?

Baz Druker

Leeside, Barnet

August 20, 2002 14:30