Green crusader
Movie tough guy-turned-statesman Arnold Schwarzenegger insists the US is committed to a greener future despite Trump reneging on the Paris agreement.
KATOWICE ( Poland): Governments must protect citizens from the killer effects of climate change, movie tough guy-turned-statesman Arnold Schwarzenegger said, insisting the United States was committed to a greener future despite Donald Trump reneging on the Paris agreement.
In an interview on the sidelines of a UN climate summit in Poland this week, the Terminator actor and three-time Mr Universe winner said he was on an “environmental crusade” and urged everyone to join in the climate fight.
Schwarzenegger added a sprinkle of stardust to Monday’s opening session of COP24 climate talks in Poland, where nations must agree on a rulebook to limit global temperature rises and the devastating impacts global warming will bring.
“I think governments’ responsibility is to protect people. That’s why we have armies to avoid an attack. Well here is the biggest attack,” he said.
“Seven million people die every year because of (air) pollution, 25,000 of them die alone in America. If we don’t want to fight that then there is something wrong with us.”
In his two terms as California governor between 2003-2011, Schwarzenegger helped shape America’s richest state into a green powerhouse.
He signed legislation giving local and state officials the tools to bring down greenhouse gas emissions by reducing urban sprawl and promoting renewable energy and green technology.
The 71-year-old said the US was committed to act on climate change regardless of President Trump’s controversial decision to take the richest country in the world out of the Paris accord.
“Just because Donald Trump dropped out of the Paris agreement it doesn’t mean that America dropped out,” he said.
“All of our states that were always environmentally friendly are still going in the same direction. All of our cities in America are going in the same direction, they are still in the Paris agreement.
“People are investing in green technology. It’s a booming industry and people should understand that we all have to work together. America is in and our crazy leader is not, so be it.” The COP summit is being held in the Polish mining city of Katowice, and the Polish government is pushing for a “just transition” that gradually reduces coal usage while protecting the miners whose livelihoods depend on it.