Huntsman, Schwarzenegger Agree to Fight Global Warming

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger paid a visit to the Utah Governor's mansion yesterday, touting his efforts to reduce climate change. KCPW's Julie Rose reports:

 

Utah is the newest - and by far the most Republican - state to join a growing coalition tackling climate change in the West. Governor Jon Huntsman Junior signed a promise to begin reducing green house gas emissions in Utah, flanked by the initiative's leader, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"Climate change has become an issue that transcends political parties," says Huntsman. "We are now two Republicans together with four Democrats who are staring down the future well-being of our people and our environment."

The governors of Washington, Oregon, Arizona and New Mexico signed the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative in February. Huntsman pledges to start a cap-and-trade program that will encourage Utah power plants to reduce emissions. The initiative also focuses on developing cleaner fuel sources, but Schwarzenegger says nuclear energy is "a problem" until there is a safe way to dispose of nuclear waste. "It's all about technology," he says.

"It's not like saying stop producing coal," says Schwarzenegger. "But let's find ways to produce clean coal. It's not saying stop flying big airplanes, no. But let's create different engines with hydrogen or biofuel. Technology is the answer. Not to stop those things and try to roll the clock back to the Stone Ages."

Schwarzenegger sees Utah's participation in the Climate Action Initiative as a hopeful sign that other Western states with a high dependence on coal will soon join the effort. Aside from creating state policies to reduce emissions, he says the goal is also to send a message to the Bush Administration and Congress that if they won't lead on the issue they should at least quote "get out of the way."

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