Ecobreves – UNITED STATES: Greens Seek Commitment from Schwarzenegger

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 11 2003 (IPS) - Ecologist groups say the environmental proposals of the governor-elect of the U.S. state of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, are vague — and they are going to demand concrete answers. Carl Zichella, regional director of the environmental group Sierra Club, noted that they have entered “uncharted territory” and that the only thing the actor-turned-politician has offered are promises.

Schwarzenegger, famous for his role as the “Terminator”, was elected governor of the powerful state of California on Oct. 7 following a controversial campaign that the media came to describe as a circus.

He has said he will work towards implementing the state law for reducing greenhouse gas emissions — counter to federal policies — cut air pollution by at least 50 percent and ban further oil drilling in California.