No firm evidence of global warming

Experts at a seminar yesterday claimed that there is no firm evidence of global warming.
They said available data is contradictory and there is little consensus within the scientific community.
The knowledge-sharing seminar titled 'Global warming: A closer look at climatic processes and evidences' was organised jointly by Digital Equality Network (DEN) and Policy Advocacy Towards Harmony (PATH) at the Cirdap seminar hall in the city.
Exploring the concept of global warming from a different perspective, the speakers said present data may not be accurate enough and do not show a significant warming.
"Predictions that a vast area would go underwater are not backed by firmly reliable data. And there is also little consensus among the scientists," said Dr Rafique Ahmed, noted researcher and professor of geography and earth science department at the University of Wisconsin in USA.
He argued that Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says the present warming is the highest in 1000 years, which is untrue as the warming during the medieval ages before 950 AD was far higher than the present warming.
He also said the existing belief that global warming is mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuel and Carbon Monoxide (CO2) gas is untrue and the largest contributor to global warming is in fact natural elements.
"The biggest contributor to warming is not CO2 gas as believed, it is actually water vapour which is to blame for 95 percent of warming in surface," he said, adding that the other 5 percent warming is caused by other elements including natural and human-made factors.
The discussants also said cyclone frequency in Bangladesh has been on a decreasing trend since 1990s according to the Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) measurement.
They stressed the need for putting more focus on researches and studies rather than fund-raising campaigns for global warming.
Former adviser to a caretaker government Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, who was the chairperson at the event, stressed the need for preparing for anything that may happen in future.
"Bangladesh is a country ridden with natural disasters. Therefore, no matter what is being said or proved, we must prepare ourselves for the worst and enhance our disaster management facilities as much as possible," he added.