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Recent remarks by Northern Ireland’s Environment Minister
on a leading scientific climate change report have sparked
controversy among scientists and green groups, with the claims
being branded as ‘ludicrous’.
Environment Minister Sammy Wilson raised the suggestion that
the IPCC’s latest report was adapted to remove evidence that
human activities had little or no impact on global warming.
Wilson had previously gained a reputation as something of
an enviro-sceptic due to his opposition to the creation of
a dedicated independent environmental protection agency in
the region.
“The science of climate change could not be clearer. Anyone
who disputes these facts is either a fool or is seeking deliberately
to mislead for political or other purposes” - said Professor
Neil Adger, from the School of Environmental Sciences at the
University of East Anglia and lead author in the IPCC. “The
IPCC is the most rigorous science available - on its evidence,
every country, province and, indeed, individual needs to act
now - anything else is a dereliction of our duty of care to
ourselves and our future.
“To suggest that IPCC assessments are somehow falsified
or doctored is ludicrous” - added Professor Adger.
“WWF Northern Ireland is concerned that Mr Wilson's own personal
view on climate change appears to fly in the face of the mass
of evidence from all around the world and the official view
of the department for which he is responsible.
"Rather than disputing a scientifically accepted consensus,
we need urgent action on climate change and believe we should
be preparing Northern Ireland for a low-carbon future to tackle
our rising emissions and spiralling energy costs” - said WWF
Northern Ireland’s Malachy Campbell.
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