Former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for a significant expansion of nuclear power in the state to meet its ambitious climate goals. Speaking from his home in Brentwood amid ongoing wildfires in parts of California, Schwarzenegger emphasized the need for the next state administration to enhance efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as the state faces rising energy costs and what he described as a hostile federal government.
California aims to reduce emissions by at least 40 percent from 1990 levels by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2045. While the state has previously met emissions targets ahead of schedule, Schwarzenegger cautioned that future goals will be increasingly difficult to achieve without stronger measures. He compared the effort to bodybuilding, noting that incremental progress is essential to reach long-term objectives.
Schwarzenegger, who governed California for about seven years in the early 2000s, played a pivotal role in establishing a statewide carbon trading market. The 2006 legislation empowered the California Air Resources Board to cap greenhouse gas emissions across much of the economy. Since its implementation in 2013, the system has generated $36.2 billion in revenue, with $16 billion redistributed to consumers to offset utility costs, according to Next10, a nonprofit research organization.
Despite initial concerns that the carbon trading program and other climate policies would hamper California’s economy, the state’s GDP per capita has risen significantly while emissions per capita have fallen. Schwarzenegger highlighted this as evidence that environmental regulation and economic growth can coexist.
Current Governor Gavin Newsom has similarly positioned himself as a defender of California’s environmental leadership against federal rollbacks under the Trump administration. Newsom has described climate change as a critical national security threat and has taken steps to prevent the closure of California’s sole nuclear power plant. He has also signed legislation to explore the development of new nuclear reactors within the state.
Newsom joined Schwarzenegger recently at an economic forum in Long Beach, where both underscored the importance of doubling down on climate action to preserve California’s industries and economic power. However, Newsom and his administration have faced criticism from some Democratic lawmakers, who argue that concessions to the oil industry have weakened key climate policies amid rising energy costs.
Looking ahead, political responsibility for climate policy is likely to fall to Democrat Xavier Becerra, who currently holds a strong lead over Republican Steve Hilton in the upcoming November election. Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger’s call for nuclear energy expansion signals a shift in California’s energy debate, as policymakers reconsider the role of nuclear power in achieving the state’s carbon neutrality goals.
Newsom has acknowledged California’s leadership role in the absence of federal climate action, describing the Trump administration’s environmental policy as “jaw-dropping” in its efforts to undercut the state’s progress. As California pushes forward, the integration of nuclear power remains a contentious but increasingly central element in the state’s strategy to combat climate change.