The recent letter (“Too warm? Don’t worry, be happy,” March 20) urging us to disbelieve in climate change, is in itself unbelievable.

It stated that temperatures have not risen in the past 10 years, and anyway there are at least three historical climate cycles that could be the cause. This is like a teenager returning home after curfew, telling his parents “I’m not late, and anyway it was either my friend Tom’s, or John’s or Jane’s fault.”

Well, which is it? If you’re not late, you don’t need to blame your friends. If it is someone else’s fault, whose? Too many excuses invalidate all of them.

It’s not as if scientists are ignorant of the other historical climate cycles mentioned. In fact, they have studied them in great detail. But none of them matches the timing, abruptness and magnitude of the climate changes we are now observing.

In addition, to expect only a uniform and steady rise in temperature as the only effect of climate change is overly simplistic. The earth’s climate systems are too complex and interactive for that. The changes will be unevenly distributed, and will include other changes such as in precipitation.

Denial is not the way to achieve happiness. Learning to understand and solve problems is much more effective and satisfying.

Mary Ferm

Bainbridge Islan