P Kelly (Weekend Sun, January 17, page 27), in denouncing Dan Hutchinson's editorial the previous week on the need to get serious about climate change, is only repeating the half-truths and lies of the self-deluding deniers.

Our fast-changing climate has become such a huge and increasingly urgent issue we must face the facts. The time for stalling games based on ignorance and denigration of the science is long past.

The truthful halves: yes, Earth has always had periodic major temperature changes, all due to natural causes, until now.

And, yes, Australia has always had huge bushfires, but the latest are exceptional.

Now the lies: 'Almost 200 people have been charged with deliberately lighting the fires”. Incorrect. Only three have been charged according to rural fire authorities.

'Scientists have proved there is less CO2… now than 10,000 years ago”. Incorrect. They have found it is 50 per cent higher due to our carbon emissions – the highest in three million years. (Hardly 'miniscule”).

P Kelly asked Dan Hutchinson for his proof of climate change and was given three highly respected scientific sources. Anyone who can't understand their scientific conclusions needs to ‘head back to school' after all and learn comprehension.

P Otway, Omokoroa.