Minister Says Global Warming Just A Tax Scam

Sammy Wilson, Northern Ireland’s Minister for the Environment, believes that the Labour Government is increasing taxes and introducing stringent requirements, while using global warming to justify the measures.

Mr. Wilson said he is against the view that global warming is caused by the actions of mankind.

He also rebutted critics during his appearance at the Stormont Environment Committee yesterday.

Mr. Wilson denied blocking government adverts, which encourage people to work to cut carbon emissions, saying it is not his job to do that.

A vote of no confidence in the Minister succeeded recently.

The adverts were prepared by Westminster, Mr. Wilson said, without consultation with the devolved assemblies.

He said the Assembly in Scotland had done the same, therefore, he decided they would not be displayed.

He was also disparaging about such concepts as reducing emissions and carbon credit cards saying that he was against all those dreadful ideas, but saving energy is fine for him.

Lisa Fagan from Northern Ireland’s Friends of the Earth found it impossible to believe that the province has an environment minister who is against taking action on global warming.

Fortunately, the majority of the province’s action on the changing climate is from transport, housing and energy, which is not part of Wilson’s brief.

Daithí McKay, environmental spokesman for Sinn Féin said that environmentalists have no confidence in Mr. Wilson nor do his colleagues, his party or the public.

The public knows that climate change is manmade and they know what a terrible job the Minister is doing.

Steven Agnew of the Green Party said Mr. Wilson’s behaviour in front of the environment committee showed clearly that he should not be at the head of the Environment Department.

He has said that his carbon footprint is not important to him even though the Department has the task of protecting the environment for now and the future.