OVER the past few weeks we have been regaled with images of the Doha skyline.

High rise buildings of every architectural style. Some as high as 64 floors or 833ft.

Even if we ignore the power requirements of the construction of these monoliths, we should be realising the power requirements of their daily maintenance.

Power for lighting, lifts, air conditioning, pumping water up, sewage treatment and running the day to day office and residential needs.

All of this huge requirement must be generated causing an enormous carbon footprint for every building and there are many hundreds in Qatar alone, let alone in the Middle East and worldwide.

Any carbon footprint created by this country pales into insignificance against these.

This is not to say that we should not make every effort to reduce our own footprint, but it does suggest that our urgency will make less difference while hundreds of these carbon producing towers are under construction around the world at this time.

These images of hundreds of tall energy consuming buildings are far more concerning than those of steam coming off a couple of cooling towers at a UK power station or herd of cows in a Somerset field.

DAVID HAWKSWORTH

Branksome Wood Road, Bournemouth