By David W. Burns
July 16, 2007

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger delivered the keynote address at the 75th Annual Meeting during the opening plenary session June 23 in a speech where he stressed the importance of partnerships and applauded the leadership of our nations’ mayors in the area of climate change.

“Together, we are sending the world a message; we are going to change the dynamic on greenhouse gas and carbon emissions and that we are taking actions ourselves and that we are not waiting for Washington,” proclaimed Schwarzenegger.

Schwarzenegger discussed the steps to reduce climate change that California has taken, including rolling back carbon emissions standards to the 1990 levels, building the “hydrogen highway,” a network of hydrogen fuel stations along major highways in California, and by partnering with governments at all levels, including city governments, other state government, providences in Canada, and countries such as the United Kingdom in agreeing to the Kyoto Protocols.

“With your help, we’re increasing that momentum and moving forward at full speed,” said Schwarzenegger. “We cannot afford to waste anymore time.”

Schwarzenegger emphasized his strong belief that climate change is real and is happening by citing numerous examples. From higher temperatures that have swept California and western states over the past several summers to the increased intensity of hurricanes and wildfires, these are all direct results of climate change.

Schwarzenegger discussed the need to take action now, instead of waiting for Washington and how solutions to these problems would come from local governments, specifically cities led by their mayors.

“You are the ones that are creating the action. By working together, you have a tremendous power. You aren’t sitting around waiting for someone to take the lead on these issues, you take the lead,” said Schwarzenegger.

In typical fashion, Schwarzenegger delivered his message with a handful of laughs. The biggest laugh from the audience came when he mentioned the auto industry’s reaction to California regulations on automobiles sold in the state.

“There’s a billboard in Michigan that accuses me of costing the car industry $85 billion because of the regulations we put in place in California. The billboard says, ‘Arnold to Michigan: drop dead.’ But what I’m really saying is, ‘Arnold to Michigan: get off your butt!’ That’s what I’m really saying.”

“As a matter of fact, California may be doing more to save the U.S. auto makers more than anyone else by pushing them to change,” said Schwarzenegger, referring to the changing landscape of automobiles featuring alternative energy from hybrids to pure electric cars.

The governor once again applauded mayoral efforts to curb climate change, specifically the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, a cause championed by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.

“If you think about it, and this is extraordinary, more than five-hundred of you have signed the [Mayors] Climate Protection Agreement to meet Kyoto gas emission standards by the year 2012. I know it took a lot of courage to sign that but I want to say thank you and congratulations for doing such a great job,” remarked Schwarzenegger.

Emphasizing partnerships and leadership coming from outside of Washington, Schwarzenegger concluded, “We are the ones leading the fight against global warming. We are the ones who are creating an American policy that will inspire the rest of the world to join us and to become partner with us. We are the ones who will ensure a brighter tomorrow for our people and a brighter tomorrow for our planet.”