Schwarzenegger, Bloomberg team on climate changeBy Leonard Anderson
Thu Sep 21, 7:49 PM ET
(Reuters)California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg agreed on Thursday to work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions because the Republicans said they cannot wait for the Bush administration to take action on climate change.
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"We don't wait for the federal government to take the leadership position ... we take the lead," Schwarzenegger said during a tour at a new fuel cell company in Silicon Valley.
Bloomberg echoed the governor's remarks, saying, "We have to deal with real world problems ... we can't wait for Washington to do something."
Schwarzenegger added clean energy is "the future of California, the nation and the world" that will produce new industries, jobs and strengthen the economy.
His pledge to work with Bloomberg marks the latest environmental push from a governor who has accused fellow Republican President Bush of failing to show leadership on climate change.
The actor-turned-politician also played a leading role in a bipartisan landmark global warming bill lawmakers approved last month that makes California the first U.S. state to mandate a cut in greenhouse gas emissions, equal to 25 percent by 2020.
Schwarzenegger said he will sign the bill into law next week.
Bloomberg also announced a five-point program to make New York an "environmentally sustainable city" by taking an inventory of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that will help set targets for lowering emissions.
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