'Schwarzenator' vs. Bush: Global Warming Debate Heats Up

Aug. 30, 2006 — -- A president who doesn't acknowledge the virtually universal consensus among scientists that mankind is dangerously overheating its home planet stands to be upstaged by a governor -- a fellow Republican -- who does.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reached a deal with state Democrats today on legislation that would make the state the first to impose across-the-board strict greenhouse gas emissions cuts on industry, energy plants and businesses -- the same sort of regulations a growing number of national legislators of both parties believe could make their way to Capitol Hill next year.

Assembly Bill 32 still has to be formally approved by the state legislature, which is expected to vote on it later this evening, but with the agreement reached today, it looks like a done deal.

"Today, I am happy to announce we have reached a historic agreement on legislation to combat global warming," Schwarzenegger said in a statement released after the deal was reached. "We can now move forward with developing a market-based system that makes California a world leader in the effort to reduce carbon emissions.

"The success of our system will be an example for other states and nations to follow as the fight against climate change continues," he said. "AB 32 strengthens our economy, cleans our environment and once again, establishes California as the leader in environmental protection."

AB32 would generally require California to roll statewide emissions back to 1990 levels by the year 2020, a cut of about 25 percent.

"I say the [global warming] debate is over. We know the science," Schwarzenegger declared forcefully at a recent United Nations summit. "We see the threat, and we know the time for action is now."

President Bush, however, continues to cast doubt on the consensus in the scientific community that man-made emissions cause global warming.

"I have said consistently that global warming is a serious problem. There's debate over whether it's man-made or naturally caused...," the president told reporters in June, hours after an extreme thunderstorm felled an elm tree to the ground just outside his White House door.