Schwarzenegger Knocks Palin on Climate

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Domestic Issues

(CBS/AP)

California Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told the Financial Times that the United States should try to be the "power" behind the effort to fight climate change – and in the process took a shot at former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, who has expressed skepticism over global warming science.

"America within 10 years could get 20 per cent of its power needs from renewables," Schwarzenegger said. "We have sun, wind - you can even now get oil from algae. There is a green revolution [in California] but the whole US could be leading like that."

As for Palin's comments on climate change – she wrote in a Washington Post op-ed suggesting that Americans should be skeptical of the overwhelming scientific consensus that global warming is real and man-made – the California governor had this to say: "You have to ask: what was she trying to accomplish? Is she really interested in this subject or is she interested in her career and in winning the [Republican presidential] nomination?"

Arnold: Environment, Economy Can Coexist

In other climate change news, dozens of major corporations -- among them Microsoft, Dow and Nike – have signed onto a letter urging President Obama to lead the way toward working out an international agreement to address climate change in Copenhagen.

"The costs of inaction far outweigh the costs of action," the letter, which Glenn Thrush has posted here, states. "Our environment and economy are at stake."

The companies go on to argue that the president's "forceful leadership is essential" to crafting an international agreement to address global warming.

UPDATE: CLICK HERE TO READ PALIN'S RESPONSE

More:

Poll Finds Support for Addressing Global Warming
UN: "Stop Pointing Fingers" on Climate
US-China Showdown Still Looms Over Climate Talks

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by ballastwater December 18, 2009 10:09 AM EST: Global warming or not our water would be cleaner and safer and industrial jobs would come back to the United States if a strong Federal ballast water policy to build our Coast Guard up to the level needed to just inspect and test the problems, those who want to bring goods into our country would encounter. The Coast Guard could even pick the best ones for our military while implementing a stronger time line, similar to the one Senator Boxer stopped over a year ago because it was not fast enough for her idea of States Rights. The replacement of old ships barges, etc. used exclusively on the Great Lakes could create new industry along with just shoring up the Coast Guards infrastructure. Unfortunately China and the EU, ETC. have already crafted plans to lead international green ship building. Many of their new ballast water technologies may do more harm than good. Inspection should be the primary concern since on 9/11 we should have realized that we need to change the way we do business in the world, we can no longer afford to wait for countries that do not care what they put in the products they sell us, to care what they dump in our water. We should not believe they will care about the carbon footprint in their manufacturing either. If international shipping can not keep up with the technology needed to protect our environment for future generations, new consumer goods may be produced in our country, with ecological care as new green shipping cost offset development of ecologically responsible manufacturing methods. Negotiations on a world scale with these same people, not wanting to accept verification of carbon emission?s is of no value, and to allow the acceptance of laws and rules developed by the IMO, an organization composed with these same international interest, is also of little value to the worlds environment. The history of invasive species and pathogens has proven the IMO's ability to fix and police ballast water is close to useless. Off shore energy exploration and mining, which release new microbes from the ocean would be safer and easier to capitalize on developing green technology to offset energy independence.; Reply to this comment


by Kc98GT December 17, 2009 7:38 PM EST: Liberals fail to read good points, so i'll post it again:

by Kc98GT December 17, 2009 2:37 PM EST
there were cold periods on earth(ice age) and warm periods as well before humans were even on the planet.
__________________________

Question: Is it possible the cold/warm periods on earth are the result of earth's natural cyclical climate variations, and not the result of manmade carbon emissions?

Is is possible, yes or no?

By the way, the earth's getting colder not warmer.; Reply to this comment


by noloyalisti December 17, 2009 7:15 PM EST: I think the theory of gravity is a scam too. It was invented by parachute manufacturers.

And evolution is a scam, too. Everyone knows the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM), who created the earth, placed all those fossils in the rocks to confuse the scientists.

Beside, how could there be global warming if the Arctic Ice Sheet is 40% smaller? How could it be global warming just because it is hot in Australia at the same time it is snowing in the Alps? I mean, how stupid are you people?; Reply to this comment


by P0STING_AWAY December 17, 2009 7:05 PM EST: by daffy64 December 17, 2009 4:06 PM EST
The preponderance of evidence supporting the theory of global warming has been debunked. It's a scam.
-
Really? And where, pray tell, did you read that?
======================================================
The Daffster did not read this anywhere.
"Reading" is not the Daffster's thing.
He lets FAUX NOISE do his thinking for him.
That is where this comment came from ......; Reply to this comment


by noloyalisti December 17, 2009 6:51 PM EST: Good point, the Faux Channel watchers can go down kicking and screaming while the rest of us do what's good for them.; Reply to this comment

by P0STING_AWAY December 17, 2009 6:23 PM EST

by NowBeWithThat December 17, 2009 5:33 PM EST
"Average global temperatures have increased 0.74 degrees C (1.3 degrees F) in the past century" - Charles J. Hanley, AP
_______________________________

Hanley is the Associated Press official shill for 'global warming' and he's been reporting on climate change since the late 90s.
===============================================================
The nations of the world have acknowledged that Global Warming is real
and is a problem.
Exxon (check their website) has acknowledged this as well.

Palin?
The rest of you uneducated peons?

It does not matter what you think.

Reply to this comment


by JV1970 December 18, 2009 2:47 AM EST: You'll find out just how much we DO matter in the 2010 and 2012 elections! And by the way, we are just as educated as you are! You just don't think so because we don't agree with you! You think that anyone who doesn't agree with you is stupid and uneducated!


by NowBeWithThat December 17, 2009 5:33 PM EST: "Average global temperatures have increased 0.74 degrees C (1.3 degrees F) in the past century" - Charles J. Hanley, AP
_______________________________

Hanley is the Associated Press official shill for 'global warming' and he's been reporting on climate change since the late 90s.; Reply to this comment


by Kc98GT December 17, 2009 4:07 PM EST: Theres this little thing called Global Economic problems that are getitng in the way. Now times may never be ideal, but a massive redistribution of wealth to poorer countries in the world is not the answer to fix our present day economies.

The president's first and main responsibility is to his own people. I am 150% for becoming energy independent and finding new, clean technologies. Forcing this on taxpayers around the world at this point in time; is flat out wrong. The e-mails that have come about have shown there was some possible unethical practices going on by our UK scientists; which were directly reporting to the IPCC whose science is used as FACT in Copenhagen as we speak.

As I mentioned before; if you are a believer in the science and man made climate change, then you should not have any problem with an independent review since there are some discrepancies.; Reply to this comment


by noloyalisti December 17, 2009 4:03 PM EST: You need to look at the RATE of change. The concentration of CO2 has increased 35% since the 1700's. And half of that has occurred in the last 50 years. The graphs show that the RATE is increasing.

Living beings, including mankind, cannot evolve that fast.; Reply to this comment

by mgmfos December 17, 2009 3:40 PM EST

Obviously true that there were warm periods before.
What I don't understand is why some people are so against reducing pollution and dependence on foreign oil? Why shouldn't the US be the leader in new energy technology?

Reply to this comment


by daffy64 December 17, 2009 4:03 PM EST: Because then Canada wouldn't be getting your money.

Keep it comin'.

Buy a Hummer.

Merci and muchos gracias from Canada, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia.