TONY Blair's euphoria (Echo, June 8) over the G8 agreement on climate change is due to his conviction that it is human activity that is causing global warming and that world governments must enforce reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to 50 per cent of present by 2050.

Targeting carbon emissions, recycling waste and reducing energy use makes environmental sense and economic benefits. But is global warming all our fault and can we really prevent it?

Who was to blame?

* when the Romans occupied Britain and it was hot enough to grow grapes at least as far north as York, with which they paid their taxes?

* when the temperatures dropped dramatically at about 300AD until the nineth century?

* when there came a medieval "warm period" with higher temperatures than present levels lasting more than 400 years?

* when the "little ice age" set in causing severe glaciation in Europe between 1595 and 1735?

It would appear that extreme climate changes over long periods have been with us throughout recorded history, even when our carbon emissions were negligible.

I fear that governments will not prevent global warming, however much they co-operate. They will, however, find ways to tax it and increase their control of the public.

Rev R Ken Evans, Darlington.