It matters not one jot how much we in Britain reduce CO2 output until the US and China get on board too.

The US, still with its head in the sand over the connection between human activity and global warming, thinks Kyoto is a naughty word and is only thinking about lowering the rate at which CO2 emissions should increase.

China, meanwhile, in the grip of an economic growth spurt that will continue to gain momentum, is building two new power stations a week — with the vast majority burning fossil fuels, meaning yet more CO2 being released.

In 2006, China pumped out 6200 megatonnes of CO2. Next year the figure will be higher.

In comparison, Britain managed about only 160 megatonnes — about half of what results from coal fires alone in China.

Even if Britain were to stop emitting CO2 right now, the net effect on global warming would be insignificant.

And the kicker is, boffins reckon we’ve only got this century to get it right before global warming becomes a runaway train.

But just try telling the developing nations they’ve got to industrialise in a cleaner, greener fashion than we did. They’ll only point to the US and raise their eyebrows. And rightly so.

The only entity to benefit from The War On CO2: An Exercise In Futility, is our Chancellor — and at our expense.

If we Brits could make a difference, I wouldn’t mind forking out and doing my bit to save the planet.

But we can’t, so I do mind. And you should too. — Green Giant, Arbroath.

Does the Tele have any information? — Andrew Gourlay, Strathmore Street, Dundee.

[This very subject was covered in the Tele’s Blether with Brown column in June and July.

Michelle Ruse contacted the column writing, “My beloved granddad Vic Ruse was, indeed, the full cousin of Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland (their mother was Lilian), and their different surnames came from Lilian’s first and second husbands, although they were both born to de Havilland.

“Joan wanted a different surname so she was not thought of as Olivia’s sister.

“My granddad died in 1979, and was a well-loved Dundonian, a footballer and train driver.”]

The other three flats are occupied by students who told me the lights had been out for five months.

Having checked the bulbs were okay I tried phoning Scottish Hydro Electric to have the stair lights repaired.

After pressing umpteen buttons I was advised by someone in a call centre that if I asked for an engineer to call and he found it was not their equipment at fault, I would have to pay the call-out charge.

A visit to the Hydro shop in Whitehall Street proved fruitless — no-one there had the first idea what I should do, “Why don’t you call the call centre?” they suggested helpfully.

So I tried again, and this time found myself talking to someone in Portsmouth. He had no idea how to contact the Hydro Electric depot in Dundee.

After I discussed — from my desk in London — with this chap in Portsmouth how I might have the stair lights fixed in Dundee, he said he would ask one of his managers to “take ownership” of the problem and call me.

Guess what? There has been no call.

So, can the Tele help solve the riddle of how to contact a Hydro Electric engineer in Dundee? — W. S.

A spokesman for Hydro Electric said, “We are extremely disappointed to hear your reader has not received the high level of customer service for which we are known and we would ask him to contact us on the number that follows, so we can help resolve his problem.

“This appears to have been an unfortunate misunderstanding. We would advise anyone whose stair lighting is not working throughout the entire building to contact our Emergency Centre on 0800 300 999.

“An engineer will attend to check our fuse, which controls the stair lighting. If this is found to be the cause of the problem then it will be replaced.

“However, if it is not the cause of the loss of power, the property owner will be advised to contact a qualified electrician to check the rest of the stair lighting equipment.

“If the properties are owned by the local authority or a housing association then they will send an electrician to check the equipment.”

Sadly, this is a sign of the times, especially when management want more quantity and less quality.

I was employed at Invergowrie Park and the outlying cemetery for almost 20 years as park attendant, and management were continuously on my case about having produced too much quality and not nearly enough quantity.

I still possess a letter regarding this matter.

The villagers of Invergowrie always appreciated a well-kept park and I made many friends there throughout the years. Mr Boyce is only one of many who will notice the vast changes overall. — Ron McIntosh, Balunie Drive, Dundee.

The schools are long overdue, so perhaps the city council should start recouping tax from all the dodgers and stop paying out “freebies” to all who don’t work and won’t work.

As usual the paying people are carrying the load. — Council Tax Payer.

As I got on, the young bus driver kindly pointed out several items had fallen from my bag further up the road.

Having retrieved them he said he’d keep an eye out as he drove past “just in case I had missed any”.

I read letters in the Tele criticising the attitude of bus drivers.

But if the helpful driver of bus 7104 is anything to go by, complaints may well be a thing of the past. — LM Leitch.

I know a number of folk who dislike the English and most do not vote or support the SNP.

There are good, bad, and indeed very bad people, in every nation. — Westender, Dundee.

Easy Walkers based in Angus has a service for people who have witnessed animals being abused.

You can call us and report in confidence. We then pass on the details to the Scottish SPCA and the police. We can be contacted on mobiles 07789785070 or 07722867831 day or night or by email easywalkersnews@yahoo.co.uk. — Daryl Beech, Easy Walkers.