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Wilson blocks climate change ad Resign call over blocked green ad
(about 1 hour later)
Northern Ireland's Environment Minister Sammy Wilson has blocked a government advertisement campaign on climate change. A Northern Ireland minister's decision to block a government advertisement campaign on climate change has led to a call for his resignation.
The advertisements urged people to reduce energy consumption and cut carbon dioxide output.The advertisements urged people to reduce energy consumption and cut carbon dioxide output.
Mr Wilson said the Scottish executive had objected to the advertisements and stopped them being broadcast. But Environment Minister Sammy Wilson claimed the adverts were part of an "insidious propaganda campaign".
He said the adverts were part of an "insidious propaganda campaign" which would not be imposed on people in NI. Calling for his removal, the Green Party said Mr Wilson made "a laughing stock out of Northern Ireland."
Mr Wilson said they were "giving people the impression that by turning off the standby light on their TV they could save the world from melting glaciers and being submerged in 40ft of water". Sammy Wilson argued that the Scottish executive had objected and stopped the adverts being broadcast.
He argued that they were "giving people the impression that by turning off the standby light on their TV they could save the world from melting glaciers and being submerged in 40ft of water".
He said that was "patent nonsense".He said that was "patent nonsense".
Mr Wilson said he wrote to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to say that the advertising campaign Act on CO2 "was not welcome". Mr Wilson said he had written to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to say that the advertising campaign Act on CO2 "was not welcome".
He explained that he did not believe in its message that "man-made greenhouse gas emissions are the main cause of climate change" and that the campaign was contrary to his personal views.He explained that he did not believe in its message that "man-made greenhouse gas emissions are the main cause of climate change" and that the campaign was contrary to his personal views.
He told DECC: "I do not wish for climate change messages to be promoted by other Whitehall departments here".He told DECC: "I do not wish for climate change messages to be promoted by other Whitehall departments here".
The DUP's Sammy Wilson has objected to the government campaignThe DUP's Sammy Wilson has objected to the government campaign
But Brian Wilson, of the Green Party, said the environment minister should be removed from office for refusing to recognise climate change.
"He is a climate change sceptic. We have got to take all measures we can to reduce our carbon footprint. Mr Wilson does not agree with that.
"This is totally incompatible with him being minister for the environment," he said.
The Alliance Party and the SDLP have also criticised Mr Wilson's decision.
Alliance leader David Ford said: "The simple fact is that there is scientific evidence, accepted by the overwhelming majority of scientists, that manmade climate change will affect our environment if it is not brought under control," he said.
Tommy Gallagher, SDLP, accused Mr Wilson of "political sabotage of an important public awareness campaign".
"We need all the awareness campaigns we can get on this issue, and in particular we need to ensure that efforts to combat climate change do not become victims of the downturn. The minister must be held accountable for his maverick posturing," he said.
BBC Northern Ireland environment correspondent Mike McKimm said: "Mr Wilson has also advised Whitehall that such messages can only be promoted in Northern Ireland with his permission and he wants to see what he terms 'postcode lockouts' used to prevent them 'leaking' into that part of the UK.BBC Northern Ireland environment correspondent Mike McKimm said: "Mr Wilson has also advised Whitehall that such messages can only be promoted in Northern Ireland with his permission and he wants to see what he terms 'postcode lockouts' used to prevent them 'leaking' into that part of the UK.
"He also told the DECC that this applies to specific organisations licensed to use the "Act on CO2" brand, including the Carbon Trust."He also told the DECC that this applies to specific organisations licensed to use the "Act on CO2" brand, including the Carbon Trust.
"Mr Wilson's departmental website says it takes a lead on climate change issues."Mr Wilson's departmental website says it takes a lead on climate change issues.
"His own political party manifesto also makes similar claims: 'The DUP has... called for year-on-year targets in order to achieve reduced Carbon emissions.' (DUP 2007)."His own political party manifesto also makes similar claims: 'The DUP has... called for year-on-year targets in order to achieve reduced Carbon emissions.' (DUP 2007).
Alliance leader David Ford has criticised Mr Wilson's decision.
"The simple fact is that there is scientific evidence, accepted by the overwhelming majority of scientists, that manmade climate change will affect our environment if it is not brought under control," he said.
"Almost the only misrepresentation that the minister did not utter was the suggestion that one week's snow proves there is no global warming.
"The rest of his comments merely prove how unrepresentative his personal opinions are."
Commenting on Mr Wilson's approach to climate change and its Act on CO2 campaign, the DECC told the BBC that human behaviour causes climate change.Commenting on Mr Wilson's approach to climate change and its Act on CO2 campaign, the DECC told the BBC that human behaviour causes climate change.
They said their commitment to this campaign was guided by the "best science, the most up-to-date information and the evidence... the only way we can tackle it is by working together".They said their commitment to this campaign was guided by the "best science, the most up-to-date information and the evidence... the only way we can tackle it is by working together".