Arnold Schwarzenegger surprised Vienna public transport users on Tuesday by hailing them as “climate action heroes.” The Austrian Hollywood star is in town for an annual conference he organizes on climate change. “Here is your chief mobility officer Arnold Schwarzenegger talking to you,” the “Terminator” star and former governor of California announced over the intercom system of all public transport. The announcement, broadcast every 30 minutes, was heard by around 2.4 million people who use the city’s public transport per day, according to network operator Wiener Linien.
“Thank you for your commitment to a healthy planet,” Schwarzenegger said in German. He continued in English, stating, “You’re all real climate action heroes, helping to unite in action and terminate pollution.”
Schwarzenegger, 77, launched the summit in his native Austria eight years ago to highlight the challenges of climate change. In his opening speech on Tuesday, Schwarzenegger, who has been an outspoken critic of US President Donald Trump, held back criticism, while calling for “action that makes people’s lives better.”
“I know that people are sick and tired of the whining and the complaining and the doom and gloom.
They want heroes… We have to win the people over,” he said.
Schwarzenegger praises Vienna’s transit users
This year, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is attending, alongside Austrian Prime Minister Christian Stocker and Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen. Schwarzenegger also had a message for environmentalists who are frustrated by President Trump’s environmental policies: “Stop whining and get to work.”
Since taking office, the Trump administration has dismantled many of the Biden-era environmental initiatives, rolled back landmark regulations, and withdrawn funding for climate projects. Instead, the administration has increased support for oil and gas production, pushing for an “American energy dominance” agenda.
Speaking at the Austrian World Summit in Vienna, an event he helps organize, Schwarzenegger advised, “Stop whining and get to work.” He cited examples of local and regional governments, as well as companies, taking meaningful action. He recalled his own administration in California, which demonstrated that significant reductions in pollution are achieved at the local or state level. “Be the mayor that makes buses electric; be the CEO who ends fossil fuel dependence; be the school that puts up solar roofs,” he urged.
“You can’t just sit around and make excuses because one guy in a very nice White House on Pennsylvania Avenue doesn’t agree with you,” he added, mentioning that he avoids criticizing any president while outside the U.S.
The summit aims to tackle various issues related to climate change and to encourage global cooperation in addressing these challenges. Keynote speakers and environmental advocates from various countries are expected to participate, discussing strategies to combat climate change and sharing success stories from their respective regions. The summit also aims to foster partnerships between government entities, businesses, and civil society to implement effective climate policies.
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