Latest news with #AustrianWorldSummit
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
This Strong Two-Word Message from Arnold Schwarzenegger Might Just Save the Planet
Arnold Schwarzenegger has never been one to sit quietly while the world burns—literally or figuratively. And at this year's Austrian World Summit, the former California governor issued a tough-love rallying cry to frustrated environmental activists with a message as bold as it was simple: "Stop whining." That's the two-word challenge he says could turn the tide in the fight against climate change—not by waiting for leaders in Washington to act, but by taking matters into our own hands. 'Whining doesn't change anything. Whining doesn't build anything,' he said, responding to growing disillusionment from climate advocates. 'Sometimes problems need to be solved by the people.' Instead of directing fire at politicians, though he subtly referenced U.S. leaders who've rolled back environmental protections, Schwarzenegger urged individuals, local governments, and businesses to step up. He pointed to mayors transitioning fleets to electric vehicles, schools installing solar panels, and CEOs cutting corporate emissions. Real progress, he argued, doesn't need permission from the Oval Office. 'I know this sounds a little bit like a motivational speech... because it is,' he added with signature bluntness. Schwarzenegger drew on his own history for proof. As governor, he spearheaded emissions regulations that clashed with federal policy. When the Environment Protection Agency tried to block California's efforts in 2007, he didn't back down—he sued. And won. 'Did we whine like little girlie men?' he asked. 'No, we sued them. We took the fight from court to court to court.' Now, he says, it's time for that same energy. 'You don't need to be the president to be a hero,' he told the crowd. 'You just need to care and get off your butts and get to work.' Because sometimes, two words are all it takes to start a movement. Perhaps, in this case, these two could lead to saving the Strong Two-Word Message from Arnold Schwarzenegger Might Just Save the Planet first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 5, 2025
Japan Today
3 days ago
- General
- Japan Today
Schwarzenegger tells environmentalists dismayed by Trump to 'stop whining' and get to work
Arnold Schwarzenegger has a message for environmentalists who despair at the the approach of President Donald Trump's administration: 'Stop whining and get to work.' The new U.S. administration has taken an ax to Biden-era environmental ambitions, rolled back landmark regulations, withdrawn climate project funding and instead bolstered support for oil and gas production in the name of an 'American energy dominance' agenda. Schwarzenegger, the former Republican governor of California, has devoted time to environmental causes since leaving political office in 2011. He said Tuesday he keeps hearing from environmentalists and policy experts lately who ask, 'What is the point of fighting for a clean environment when the government of the United States says climate change is a hoax and coal and oil is the future?' Schwarzenegger told the Austrian World Summit in Vienna, an event he helps organize, that he responds: 'Stop whining and get to work.' He pointed to examples of local and regional governments and companies taking action, including his own administration in California, and argued 70% of pollution is reduced at the local or state level. 'Be the mayor that makes buses electric; be the CEO who ends fossil fuel dependence; be the school that puts (up) solar roofs," he said. 'You can't just sit around and make excuses because one guy in a very nice White House on Pennsylvania Avenue doesn't agree with you,' he said, adding that attacking the president is 'not my style' and he doesn't criticize any president when outside the U.S. 'I know that the people are sick and tired of the whining and the complaining and the doom and gloom,' Schwarzenegger said. 'The only way we win the people's hearts and minds is by showing them action that makes their lives better.' © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Arnold Schwarzenegger tells climate activists to ‘stop whining' because they don't have any support from the White House. ‘Sometimes problems need to be solved by the people'
Arnold Schwarzenegger encouraged environmental activists to roll up their sleeves and address climate change despite waning political support from the current administration. Complaining, he added, would not help: Whining doesn't build anything. Throughout his remarks, Schwarzenegger pointed to his time as governor of California when he sued the federal government over its attempt to block statewide emissions regulations. Former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a rallying cry filled with tough love for dispirited environmental activists: 'Stop whining.' At the Austrian World Summit, an environmental conference Schwarzenegger helped organize in his home country, the former governor tried to galvanize climate-change advocates that might have felt their efforts were for naught because of the Trump administration's dismissal of their cause. His message was typically blunt. 'Stop whining,' Schwarzenegger said on Tuesday. 'Whining doesn't change anything. Whining doesn't build anything. I know that sometimes politicians in Washington, D.C., or many other capitals of the world won't always agree with everything that we do and that we believe in.' Schwarzenegger said his comments were meant to spur action from people at a time they were facing governments that had not made environmental policy a priority. 'I know this sounds a little bit like a motivational speech, rather than a speech about the environment—but you know why—because it is,' he said. The former actor, who is a longtime climate advocate, admitted he'd heard many complaints from his peers recently. 'Lately, every time I talk to environmentalists and to policy people, they say to me, 'Arnold, I mean, what is the point of fighting for a clean environment when the government of the United States says climate change is a hoax and coal and oil is the future, when the politicians in Washington don't care,'' he said. President Donald Trump's environmental policy has been characterized by relaxing pollution regulations, emphasizing oil drilling on federal lands, and cutting spending for existing green initiatives. During his speech, Schwarzenegger did not criticize Trump directly, saying he had a policy of not speaking negatively about U.S. presidents when he was abroad—though he did speak broadly of leaders whose policies did not help climate change. 'The world will always have problems and leaders who don't agree with us, or are just terrible leaders,' Schwarzenegger said. 'We have seen it over and over again throughout history, but sometimes problems need to be solved by the people. Sometimes the people need to rise up and get to work.' In his remarks, Schwarzenegger gave examples of people who 'didn't ask the government' for permission to enact environmentally friendly policies. For example, mayors can make their city buses electric; CEOs can push to reduce their company's carbon emissions; and schools could install solar panels on their rooftops. Throughout the speech, Schwarzenegger pointed to his own track record in public office as evidence of how effective action could be. He told the story of how in 2007, during his tenure as governor, California instituted emissions regulations that were stricter than those mandated by a federal law passed under President George W. Bush. When the Environmental Protection Agency objected to California's state-specific version of the law, the state sued the federal agency. 'Did we whine like little girlie men?' Schwarzenegger asked. 'No, we sued them. We sued the government. We took the fight from court to court to court.' In 2009, when President Barack Obama took office, the EPA granted California the exception it sought, ending its court challenge. Schwarzenegger called on the audience to adopt a similar gung-ho attitude regardless of whether they held elected office. 'You don't need to be the president to be a hero,' Schwarzenegger said. 'You just need to care and get off your butts and get to work.' This story was originally featured on
The Hill
3 days ago
- General
- The Hill
Schwarzenegger to environmentalists: ‘Stop whining and get to work'
VIENNA (AP) — Arnold Schwarzenegger has a message for environmentalists who despair at the the approach of President Donald Trump's administration: 'Stop whining and get to work.' The new U.S. administration has taken an ax to Biden-era environmental ambitions, rolled back landmark regulations, withdrawn climate project funding and instead bolstered support for oil and gas production in the name of an 'American energy dominance' agenda. Schwarzenegger, the former Republican governor of California, has devoted time to environmental causes since leaving political office in 2011. He said Tuesday he keeps hearing from environmentalists and policy experts lately who ask, 'What is the point of fighting for a clean environment when the government of the United States says climate change is a hoax and coal and oil is the future?' Schwarzenegger told the Austrian World Summit in Vienna, an event he helps organize, that he responds: 'Stop whining and get to work.' He pointed to examples of local and regional governments and companies taking action, including his own administration in California, and argued 70% of pollution is reduced at the local or state level. 'Be the mayor that makes buses electric; be the CEO who ends fossil fuel dependence; be the school that puts (up) solar roofs,' he said. 'You can't just sit around and make excuses because one guy in a very nice White House on Pennsylvania Avenue doesn't agree with you,' he said, adding that attacking the president is 'not my style' and he doesn't criticize any president when outside the U.S. 'I know that the people are sick and tired of the whining and the complaining and the doom and gloom,' Schwarzenegger said. 'The only way we win the people's hearts and minds is by showing them action that makes their lives better.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Arnold Schwarzenegger Tells Environmentalists ‘Stop Whining and Get to Work' During Trump's Presidency
Arnold Schwarzenegger shared some blunt advice Tuesday for environmentalists who are concerned about the Trump administration's chainsaw approach to environmental sanctions and climate initiatives. Speaking at the Austrian World Summit in Vienna, an annual, international climate conference he launched, the former Republican governor of California revealed that he is constantly asked by environmentalists and climate change experts what the point is of fighting for the environment at a time when the U.S. government 'says climate change is a hoax and coal and oil is the future.' According to Schwarzenegger, he always tells those experts and activists, 'Stop whining and get to work.' Arguing that 70% of pollution can be reduced by local and state-level initiatives, he called for environmentalists to try making change in other, corporate and governmental ways. 'Be the mayor that makes buses electric; be the CEO who ends fossil fuel dependence; be the school that puts (up) solar roofs,' the movie star, politician and bodybuilder said. 'You can't just sit around and make excuses because one guy in a very nice White House on Pennsylvania Avenue doesn't agree with you.' While he was in office from 2003 to 2011, Schwarzenegger devoted a substantial portion of his efforts as a public official to creating and establishing climate initiatives in California. In the years since, he has continued to focus on ensuring a cleaner environmental future as both a spokesperson for environmentalists and through his Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative. Since Trump took office again in January, his administration has, conversely, been aggressive in rolling back environmental regulations implemented during Joe Biden's presidency, withdrawn funding from climate projects, proposed major cuts to environmental agencies and pushed for an increased focus on stateside oil and gas production. Despite his history of environmentalism and his public endorsement of Kamala Harris in late 2024, though, Schwarzenegger chose not to directly criticize President Trump during his appearance at this year's Austrian World Summit. He said that such a strategy is 'not my style' and noted that he refuses to criticize any American president whenever he is outside of the United States. Instead of criticizing Trump, Schwarzenegger urged environmentalists to focus on enacting demonstrable, impactful change any way they can. 'I know that the people are sick and tired of the whining and the complaining and the doom and gloom,' he explained. 'The only way we win the people's hearts and minds is by showing them action that makes their lives better.' The post Arnold Schwarzenegger Tells Environmentalists 'Stop Whining and Get to Work' During Trump's Presidency appeared first on TheWrap.
