Sammy Wilson And Hot Air

Ulster Unionist Party Environment spokesman, Roy Beggs MLA, has criticized the DUPs lack of direction on climate change, and called upon those in the DUP who are as appalled as he is at the Environment Minister's actions to consider their position.

Mr Beggs commented:

"At the weekend the Environment Minister, Sammy Wilson, told us that climate change is an 'insidious New Labour propaganda campaign,' a mere fantasy, and contrary to his personal views. And, on the back of this entirely personal view, decided that an advertising campaign on CO2 would not be shown or used in Northern Ireland.

"This despite his election on a DUP manifesto which states: 'It is important that we in Northern Ireland not only look after our own environment but also play our part in global issues such as tackling climate change.' Indeed, the DUP has boasted of its Westminster voting record on these issues.

"On Monday 9, Peter Robinson, the First Minister, rebuked Mr Wilson by telling the Assembly that his statement was contrary to DUP policy; although oddly he didn't mention that it is contrary to the Programme for Government. And on Tuesday, Jim Wells, who famously had to stand down as DUP Environment spokesman for not being a climate change denier, told the Assembly "…climate change is man-made. We, as a species, are destroying our planet through the production of carbon emissions and methane".

"Ian Paisley Jnr may well think "we all have our Jim Wells to bear", but I think that Jim is entirely right. He is clearly out of touch with the DUP, but only because the DUP is out of touch with reality and science on this matter. I welcome Jim's support for an independent Environmental Protection Agency, contrary to DUP policy. I support Jim's recognition that carbon emissions of humans are destroying our environment through climate change, contrary to DUP activity in the DoE. I think that Jim Wells is a sensible environmentalist, who is a fish out of water in a party pushing an embarrassing agenda in our Environment Department.

"For a party which claims that its' efforts at St Andrews "secured accountability for devolved government" it seems extraordinary that one of its own Ministers is able to ignore the DUP manifesto, ignore the Programme for Government and exercise a personal veto on such an important issue. Perhaps he is taking lessons from the Education Minister!