Arnold Schwarzenegger shared his views on fighting pollution at the Planet Media Climate Summit at USC in Los Angeles on April 10, 2025. He spoke with Willow Bay, dean of USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, about the importance of messaging when discussing environmental issues. Schwarzenegger advised against using the term “climate change,” which he believes is unclear and ineffective in mobilizing public response.
Instead, he advocated for focusing on “pollution,” a term he thinks is more relatable and urgent. As governor, Schwarzenegger found that messages linking pollution to health issues like childhood asthma yielded significant public attention and action. “People paid attention because they said, ‘Oh my God.
I don’t want my kids to get sick and die,'” he said.
Fighting pollution with effective messaging
Schwarzenegger also advised not to use political figures as an excuse for inaction on environmental issues.
He recalled how California proceeded with environmental policies despite a lack of support from President George W. Bush’s administration during his time as governor. Many environmental policies can be implemented at local and state levels without federal approval, he highlighted.
The former governor urged educators to empower young people to think independently and take action on environmental issues, rather than being bogged down by pessimistic messages or others’ opinions on social media. “We have to empower young people and let them know, ‘Turn this (phone) off and start thinking for yourself. … You have the power to create change,'” he said.
When asked what motivates his advocacy for environmental solutions, the star of “The Terminator” simply responded that his goal is to “terminate pollution.”
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