Northern Ireland needs to pull its weight worldwide in tackling climate change, according to incoming Environment Minister Edwin Poots.

The DUP Lagan Valley Assembly member, who is expected to take over within weeks from his controversial climate sceptic party colleague Sammy Wilson, promised that he will be looking into opening up more sources of renewable energy.

In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, he also criticised Belfast City Council for vetoing plans to site an ‘energy from waste’ incinerator at the North Foreshore, pledged to look at speeding up the planning process and outlined plans to review the driving test.

Mr Wilson, who is taking the Finance Minister job in the Assembly, opposed his own party’s policy with his scepticism over whether humans play a role in climate change and was also critical of wind farms, describing them as “eyesores” and expressing doubts over whether they could deliver a steady flow of energy.

Mr Poots agreed that climate change has always taken place, even before many people were around.

But he added: “Meteorologists would indicate that climate change has never taken place at the pace it is currently taking place.

“All the indications are that while there might be climate change taking place, man is making a contribution that is currently accelerating climate change. The consequence is that whatever particular steps can be taken to reduce that contribution in terms of our carbon footprint, we should be taking those reasonable steps.

“But those steps need to be something which will help Planet Earth and not merely to feel good within ourselves about it.

“I am opposed to introducing regulations on business which are not being applied in other countries, so those businesses shift to other countries, goods are produced at lower environmental standards and shipped into Northern Ireland. That is not helping the planet.

“But we should be pulling our weight.”

Mr Poots said that even if you don’t believe in human contribution to climate change, it makes good financial sense to reduce Northern Ireland’s dependence on imported fossil fuel.

“Northern Ireland is very well placed in terms of utilisation of renewable sources, both in terms of wind, wave and other sources such as gasification,” he said.

“I will also be looking at the production of biomass energy and working closely with Arlene Foster (Enterprise Minister) on delivering renewable sources of energy.”

Mr Poots also warned of the huge challenge that lies ahead for Northern Ireland in tackling its waste problem, pointing out that it could face huge daily fines if this isn’t resolved.

“The decision by Belfast City Council (to veto the incinerator) was extremely disappointing and it’s something that at an early point we will have to address as to how we overcome that particular issue,” he said.

“There’s a danger it could cost ratepayers in Belfast millions of pounds per annum in fines because we are not dealing with the waste issue.”

Northern Ireland has been doing well in reducing landfill by recycling more but needs to move quickly to address the next set of challenges, he said.