Climate change real

George Hawkins (Readers' Forum, June 23) presents us with two reasons to disbelieve global warming: (1) Internet sources giving evidence for global cooling and (2) certain alleged personal behavior of Al Gore.

The second reason is too inane to discuss further. As for the first, plenty of commentary advocating all sides of the climate change issue, authored by every ilk of individual and organization, is readily available on the Internet. Anyone can pick and choose to read and believe, or not believe, whatever suits his own predisposition.

It's time to quit playing this game and take a look at reality. For those of us who have not actually participated in climate research, it is hopeless to try on our own to directly evaluate the mountain of data on the subject that has accumulated over the years. Fortunately the National Academy of Sciences, American Meteorological Society, Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, American Geophysical Society, the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and many other scientific organizations, have made such evaluations.

They have come to resounding agreement that there is a dire threat from human-caused global warming. Climate change conclusions have proved to be remarkably universal, consistent and terribly frightening.

Paul Fife

Salt Lake City