Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, marked the 20-year anniversary of significant climate legislation he signed while in office, alongside Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, on Wednesday at an economic conference in Long Beach. Schwarzenegger stated, "California is the perfect example of what can be done when people work together and when we don’t look at this as a Republican or as a Democratic issue," highlighting the impact of Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, which has led to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and the creation of over 500,000 clean-energy jobs.
Newsom emphasized that California has achieved its goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, citing the installation of 39,000 megawatts of clean energy and 23,000 megawatts of battery storage over the past seven years. He noted that no flex alert has been issued in the state in four years, stating, "So we’re not in the goal-setting business; we’re in the how business."
He described the clean energy transition as a critical national security issue for the United States, particularly as China advances in electric vehicles and clean-energy manufacturing. California met its climate change legislation target of returning emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 four years early, but recent analyses suggest the state may not meet future targets of a 40% reduction by 2030 and 85% by 2045.
The legislation also established California’s carbon market, cap-and-invest, which began in 2013 and was extended to 2045 last year. The state is now working to link its market with Washington state.
The event, along with a luncheon the previous day in Santa Monica, showcased bipartisan cooperation amid political polarization in the U.S. Schwarzenegger and Newsom exchanged praise during the discussion, concluding with a hug. Attendees included former Governor Gray Davis and environmental advocate Tom Steyer, among others.
Schwarzenegger shared anecdotes about his time in office, including his decision to appoint a Democrat as his chief of staff, which drew criticism from fellow Republicans. He remarked on the importance of hearing perspectives from both sides of the political spectrum.
Seema Mehta and Hayley Smith, reporters for the Los Angeles Times, contributed to this coverage.