Arnold Schwarzenegger these days is more ‘Last Pollution Hero’ than Last Action Hero. The Terminator was on good form at the season two premiere of Years of Living Dangerously, the National Geographic documentary series which showcases celebs such as Gisele Bündchen , Jack Black, Nikki Reed, Sigourney Weaver and Arnie himself raising awareness about climate change.
Governor Schwarzenegger was the main attraction at the star-studded premiere, which hosted stars ranging from Bradley Whitford to Gisele and her husband Tom Brady. Schwarzenegger warned a mostly liberal audience that if they politicized the planet people would turn off. Gov. Schwarzengger mixed humor and terrifying fact. 200,000 Americans die early each year from pollution, according to a study by the gold standard of science research, MIT. The Terminator added that seven million dead people worldwide from pollution speaks to folks more than dire warnings about sea levels. The subject is close to home for the former two-time Governor of California, who changed emissions levels nationwide for cars by adopting a strong standard in Cali. And it’s not just early deaths. Schwarzenegger is deeply affected by the number of kids in California’s polluted Central Valley region who struggle with asthma. As Governor, he also targeted state energy utilities. Counting hydro, Schwarzenegger’s admin set a 2020 target of a massive 48% of state energy to be derived from renewables. This is working in the sun-drenched state, where solar can be effective, and the program the Republican founded is on target under his Democrat successor Jerry Brown. ‘There is no conservative air and liberal air,’ Schwarzenegger pointed out, laughing, to applause.
He remains a Republican and a capitalist, though. Schwarzenegger is not interested in crippling California’s economy in the service of green politics – he says he wants to marry them both, rather like his Hummer that runs on biofuels. Since the standards were implemented, California’s economy has grown by a massive 12.4%. When you do the environment with muscle, it seems you can both go green and make green.
Clips from Season Two of the Emmy-winning ‘Years of Living Dangerously’ were shown, featuring Arnie riding in a huge trail of oil tankers out to meet the troops in Kuwait. The tankers are a target – but you’ll have to see the show on NatGeo’s channel to find out more.
Heat Street is an ally of the former Governor of California from his time kicking Louise Mensch into shape– so we caught up with him at the premiere for a candid conversation about climate change.
We previously published the video of Arnold’s exclusive Snapchat with the troops in Kuwait when filming this episode.
Arnold, what would you say to people, especially on the political right, who say the effects of climate change have been overblown and it doesn’t pose a significant problem?
No-one can say it isn’t a problem. 7 million people a year die of pollution-related illnesses so I would say it’s a major, major problem. When you look at the numbers, if you add up all the deaths from traffic accidents, ISIS, suicides, wars and homicides, it doesn’t come close to 7 million a year. This is how much pollution costs. Let’s all wake up and say, ‘We’ve got to do something about it.’ It’s not a political issue but it’s an issue involving what is going to happen in the future to all of us. Right now it’s already a disaster.
Do you wish the environment would be more of an issue during the election?
Obviously we wish this is the only thing they would talk about because this is something that we’re very passionate about! But the bottom line is we in California have been highly successful in cleaning up our environment. We are 40% more energy efficient, we have made a commitment to reduce greenhouse gases by 25% by 2020 and the green building initiative has made our buildings more energy efficient. All of this is happening is because people demand a clean environment but it’s because of their education. We have created a culture over the last 30 or 40 years in California to do that so we want to do the same thing worldwide though National Geographic. Our celebrity interviewers and presenters of the various different programs will help to get a lot of people to tune in and watch the shows. The idea of this is let’s communicate to people that we all have to work together- Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Declined to State- everybody should work together. It’s not Conservative versus Democrat. There is no conservative air. There is no liberal air. We all breathe the same air.
Have you ever talked about the environment with Donald Trump?
I have not talked to all the candidates and to every politician about this issue. I’m out there talking about it just like I did with the fitness promotion where I didn’t go from politician to politician. I’ve been on a fitness crusade for the last four decades and we have been highly successful. Now there are gymnasiums in every hotel and high school and every sports team is using weights. People are much fitter today and training much more. We could be as successful in our environmental crusade. The idea is to keep it out of politics and make it a people’s issue rather than a political issue.
Who will win the election?
I have no idea. The polls go this way, then that way.
What are your hopes for the second season of Years of Living Dangerously?
Remember when I said ‘I’ll be back’? Well now, we’re back with the next season and we won an Emmy last year on National Geographic. We have a really great show and we have to have all the people come together and fight for a clean environment because it’s a people’s issue and people have to be involved to make this a successful concept.
