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DUP call for green investment 'not at odds with Sammy Wilson'
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
The DUP's Enterprise Minister has called for investment in renewable energy technologies to help address climate change.
Arlene Foster's intervention followed the decision of Environment Minister colleague Sammy Wilson to veto a government climate change advertisement as insidious propaganda.
The advertisements urged people to reduce energy consumption and cut carbon dioxide output.
Mrs Foster said: "Now is the right time to encourage investment in renewable technologies for the future.
"My department will be consulting shortly on a new Strategic Energy Framework.
"This will include a focus on renewable technologies and how they can help deliver security and diversity of energy supply, address climate change and create local employment opportunities."
She was responding to an Assembly written question.
Mr Wilson argued the adverts 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.
But he received a vote of no confidence from the Stormont Environment Committee last week and a petition was established by the Green Party calling on him to quit.
Ms Foster said there was "huge potential" for the creation of green jobs in Northern Ireland and pointed to the tidal power installation in Strangford Lough, Co Down, as an example.
She said her department was working with its partners to promote renewables.
"Invest NI is also developing a strategy to maximise the potential economic benefits of the Energy and Environmental sector targeted for completion by the end of 2009," she added.
The energy and environmental sector in Northern Ireland has experienced strong growth in recent years and Ms Foster said she was confident it will offer opportunities for business in the design, installation and manufacture of component parts.
An inter-departmental group has been established looking at opportunities for green jobs and developing skills.
A DUP spokesman said: "There is absolutely no contradiction between the two positions.
"The position of the party is that we are in favour of reducing emissions and creating green jobs."
Mr Wilson has compared himself to one of history's greatest thinkers who was unfairly vilified by the establishment.
Astronomer Galileo Galilei stood trial in Rome in 1633 over his correct assertion that the Earth revolved around the sun.
The minister said: "Galileo was a scientist who stood against the conventional wisdom of the time and was regarded as a heretic, they wanted to prosecute him.
"When you talk about scientific consensus you have to bear in mind that as things change, as people discover things, as ideas are found and new information comes to light then sometimes people are left looking very foolish."
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I am pleased there is recognition of the need to move towards a green economy, essential given Peak Oil (recent figures indicate peak production for non-opec 12 occurred in 2004- fact).
However it is obviously too late to prevent complete economic collapse, those of you old enough will remember Jimmy Carter tried to get the ball rolling in the 1970s. He was off-course ignored by a populous blinded by easy money and short termism.
The devil will be in the detail of the 'Energy Strategic Framework' and personally I would be more interested in finding out how they intend to implement it!
As for Wally and his ilk your comments only highlight your own ignorance, obviously you have not read anything of note on AGW and therefore I would be wasting my breath engaging you in debate. Your comments are as empty as your head.
Posted by M Spence | 23.02.09, 18:15 GMT
Sammy stick to your opinion, ten years ago they where telling us we where heading for an ice age, then we had the hole in the ozone, and we would all be burnt to a cinder, I remember as a child , before the second world war, when we were asked to pray for rain for the farmers , because of drought conditions in N I
Posted by Wally | 18.02.09, 00:44 GMT
Reading the last paragraph I have to ask, are these the same people who believe in the literal translation of the bible and despite numerous scientific treaties think Richard Dawkins a dangerous heretic
Posted by bangkok john | 17.02.09, 23:17 GMT
During the recent icy weather spell, N.Ireland was able to keep on the move by salt from the mines of Carrickfergus..
A team of geologists told us the mine was 150 million years old.
Which must come as a surprise to Sammy "save us" Wilson who thinks the World is 6000 years old being sympathic to the creationist voice.
What a wally.
Posted by Trevor B.A. | 17.02.09, 19:43 GMT
It's a great pity that Arlene Foster was moved from being Environment Minister to make way for such a pompous ignoramus as Sammy Wilson, who now seems to have delusions of having a great scientific mind, comparable to Galileo.
Please Mr Robinson, Sammy Wilson is an embarrassment to us all, reshuffle him now, preferably to a land far far away...
Arlene's doing a great job as Enterprise Minister, diligent, responsible and behaves the way a Minister should, if you have any sense at all keep her.
Posted by Frank McM | 17.02.09, 18:04 GMT
Irony, Irony...its all about the irony. Galileo was offcourse vilified by religious authorities across the board. Funny how it is still the religious authorities who are in the Vanguard of anti AGW, Evolution as fact and equality for all. Makes me feel warm inside.
Posted by M Spence | 17.02.09, 17:59 GMT
Farcical and hilarious... overpaid, headless chickens running bumping into each other. Should these folk not have to pass a basic IQ test before they are allowed to run for office?
Posted by plannisuarus rex | 17.02.09, 17:07 GMT
One may try to help in the reduction of carbon emissions and seek alternatives forms of energy without getting sucked into the panic and hysteria of some Global Warmists. There is no contradiction.
Al Gore, a leading voice in the global warming choir, uses 20 times as much electricity in his home than the average American. When he starts to act like he really believes what he says, then people might pay more attention.
Posted by Paul, UK | 17.02.09, 17:06 GMT
Oh gawd now he's Galileo!
Posted by johnh | 17.02.09, 16:38 GMT
The DUP cannot have it both ways.
They are either a party fit to govern in 2009. Or they are a party of religious fundamentalists who dispute evolution, climate change and the equality of gays.
Posted by ger | 17.02.09, 15:40 GMT