Arnold Schwarzenegger minimized the climate skepticism of the US Trump administration on Tuesday and supported the Vatican’s environmental efforts, stating that personal decisions, local policies, and the moral guidance of the Catholic Church are more significant than national politics in “ending” pollution and climate change.
Schwarzenegger attended the Vatican to serve as the main speaker at a three-day climate conference celebrating the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ significant 2015 environmental encyclical, Laudato Si’ (Praised Be).
The text presents preserving God’s creation as a pressing ethical duty and initiated a widespread, community-driven movement that Pope Leo XIV has fully supported and adopted.
The former Republican governor of California, Schwarzenegger, has focused on environmental issues since stepping down from politics in 2011. His Climate Initiative is among the supporters of the Vatican conference, taking place at the Holy See’s newly opened environmental education center in Castel Gandolfo, located south of Rome.
During a press briefing, Schwarzenegger was questioned regarding President Donald Trump’s recent remarks at the UN General Assembly, in which he labeled climate change as a “scam.” Trump has consistently opposed climate science and initiatives designed to assist the global shift towards renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. The Trump administration has dismantled significant regulations, cut funding for climate projects, and increased backing for oil and gas production under the banner of an “American energy leadership” strategy.
Don’t rely on the federal government as an excuse,” Schwarzenegger said during the Vatican meeting. “That’s a simple way to avoid responsibility.
He remembered his legal conflicts with the previous Bush administration regarding California’s environmental rules while he was in office, and a specific win where he said, “Hasta la vista, baby,” Schwarzenegger mentioned, referencing his iconic line from Terminator 2.
Schwarzenegger emphasized that individual decisions, such as switching off lights when leaving a room, and state initiatives encouraging solar energy were far more significant.
With 1.4 billion individuals, along with 400,000 priests, the Catholic Church possesses a significant number of people who can support environmental efforts, he mentioned.
