The actor and former governor says anger at governments is driving protests, calling for leadership and action
Arnold Schwarzenegger has stated that the surge in disruptive climate protests is a direct response to political inaction, with people growing frustrated over governments’ continuous “excuses” for failing to address climate change effectively. The actor and politician expressed his views during an interview on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, highlighting the global frustration with slow or absent progress on climate goals.
He noted that these protests, which have seen activists engaging in high-profile acts of civil disobedience such as gluing themselves to roads or interrupting major events, are born out of anger. “People are angry about governments because they have excuses after excuses about why they cannot get it done,” Schwarzenegger said. “The world signed an agreement in 2015 in Paris to reduce greenhouse gases, and 70% of the countries have not lived up to their promises.”
While acknowledging that some protest methods may not be ideal, Schwarzenegger emphasised that the lack of action from governments has led people to take drastic steps in frustration. He argued that effective change requires leadership, collaboration, and a willingness to act, without concern for upsetting powerful industries like oil or automotive.
Having transitioned from a bodybuilder to a Hollywood star and eventually a political figure as California’s Republican governor, Schwarzenegger has become a prominent climate advocate. He criticised the approach of obstructing development as part of the climate movement, urging for a focus on building green infrastructure instead. “We’ve got to go and build, build, build all these green projects,” he stated.
The comments come amidst a broader debate over climate protests. Earlier, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned activists who disrupt public events, calling their actions “selfish.” However, Fatima Ibrahim, co-founder of Green New Deal UK, argued that such protests are a result of political failure to address climate issues, calling for a national industrial strategy to generate green jobs and tackle environmental challenges. She pointed out that the public largely supports the activists’ demands for more climate action, despite political narratives suggesting otherwise.
