Following Minister Sammy Wilson’s decision to block a government advertising campaign on climate change, Stormont’s Environment Committee has passed a vote of no confidence, by six votes to four. 

Leaving a less than pleasant atmosphere in Stormont,  some are accusing members of using this as a forum for political point scoring, many of Wilson’s peers and experts in climate change are appalled by his comments.  Environment Chair Patsy McGlone confirmed ahead of yesterday’s meeting, that she had no sympathy with Minister Wilson.

It appears that Mr Wilson’s comments that the adverts were part of an insidious propaganda campaign, are only the tip of the iceberg.  A leading expert on fuel and energy and a former consultant to the government has revealed details of an e-mail from Mr Wilson stating that claims that fossil fuels would run out are “nonsense”.

Following a request from the Green Party’s European candidate, Steven Agnew, Mr Wilson’s actions will be discussed in Brussels next week during a plenary session of the European Parliament.  Mr Agnew stated “Sammy Wilson is entitled to his own views, but he is not entitled to ignore the overwhelming scientific evidence that man-made climate change exists.”

These latest comments from Mr Wilson have further fueled the fire, sparked off last summer when he announced that he would vote against the government’s Climate Change Bill.  It appears that Minister Wilson’s credibility in the political and scientific world has all but evaporated.   So far Mr Wilson has resisted all calls for his resignation.

Click below to view one of the advertisements from the blocked campaign.