OPINION: John Woods, Director of Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
SAMMY Wilson's personal crusade against the scientific and political consensus on climate change would be amusing if it wasn't so serious.
It is serious because if we take his advice and fail to adapt our economy to make cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, Northern Ireland will suffer economically as a result.
It's also serious because many of us care very much about the plight of the millions of people around the world who are increasingly vulnerable to floods, famine and disease caused by climate change, not to mention future generations in this part of the world – we want to do our bit to cut climate-changing emissions.
And it's also serious because, frankly, it's a bit embarrassing to have Mr Wilson represent us as our Environment Minister on the issue of climate change with the other parts of the UK and Ireland.
First, let's deal with Mr Wilson's contention that "there is no scientific consensus around the causes" of climate change.
The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which draws together the work of over 2,500 scientists, has concluded that most of the increase in global temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the increase in greenhouse gases from human activity.
The official explanation of what "very likely" means is 90 per cent probability.
Is it worth taking any notice of this? If you went for a heart scan and a large team of doctors told you that if you didn't cut back on your daily diet of chips deep-fried in lard there was a 90 per cent likelihood that you would have a heart attack, you would probably take the hint and try to change what you eat.
Or, alternatively, you could listen to the advice of someone you met in the pub who said that you are going to have a heart attack anyway and the lard-soaked chips have nothing to do with it.
Professor Neil Adger, an expert on climate change adaptation from the University of East Anglia's Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, recently said: "The basic science is so clear and unambiguous that anyone denying it is either a fool or deliberately misleading others for political or other ends."
The least Mr Wilson could do is to try to get his facts right.
He says: "The climate change levy and the demand that more power is generated from wind have sent electricity bills soaring."
This is nonsense: until the recent oil price shock, average domestic electricity bills in Northern Ireland had risen by very little in real terms over a number of years.
What has sent bills soaring is the price of oil and gas on world markets.
He claims that we are losing jobs to China and India "where the governments have decided not to sign up to the international agreement on emissions".
In fact China and India are both signatories to the Kyoto Protocol.
Mr Wilson may not like it but there is now a UK Climate Change Bill to which the Northern Ireland Assembly has signed up that has set a target for reducing CO2 emissions by 60 per cent by 2050.
He may not like it but there is now an EU carbon trading scheme that puts a price on each tonne of carbon emitted.
Smart economies will be those that cut their emissions and embrace the low-carbon economy of the future.
Those that stick to fossil fuels will be left behind struggling with the ever rising cost of carbon emissions and the end of the era of cheap oil.
Businesses will suffer and householders will suffer if Mr Wilson has his way.
He accuses world politicians and scientists of Canute-like vainly trying to stop the tide of climate change.
Actually, the King Canute of this piece is Mr Wilson himself, vainly railing against the direction of UK and international policy on climate change over which he has no control.
So pull back, Mr Wilson, and give those scientists and world leaders the benefit of your doubt.
Join the rest of us in making the most of real world science and real world politics and maybe we could emerge as a feisty little region: creating jobs from saving energy; living in warm and well-insulated homes; using first-rate public transport; and doing our bit to relieve the burden of a changing climate on the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world.
As Environment Minister, it is Mr Wilson’s job to lead Northern Ireland policy on climate change – policy that has been clearly set by a vote of the Assembly.
It is time to stop fooling around and get on with the job for which he is being paid.
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Weather for Belfast
Wednesday 30 May 2012
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