Schwarzenegger: Green Is Sexy

ABC News’ Matthew Zavala Reports: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, R-Calif.,  touted his recent efforts to curb the effects of global warming during a speech Wednesday at Georgetown University, his wife Maria Shriver’s alma matter.

Schwarzenegger proclaimed, "For too long the environmental movement had been powered by guilt," adding, in his best motivational voice, "Guilt is passive. Guilt is inhibiting and guilt is defensive."

The body-builder turned moviestar turned politician tried to show that the environmental movement does not have to conflict with economic growth.

"Capitalism, which was the alleged enemy to the environment, is today giving new life to the environmental movement," California’s Republican Governor contended.  "We can protect the environment and protect the economy."

He also sent a message to his fellow Republicans and said that they need "courage" to  join the environmental movement, insisting that "political courage is not political suicide."

The audience was mostly Georgetown students and Schwarzenegger presented his ideas using his former profession of body building.  Bodybuilding, said the still-fit Schwarzenegger, "used to have a sketchy image…but now the perception has changed.  It has become sexier, attractive.  This is what needs to happen to the environmental movement."

"Environmentalists were kind thought of as kind of weird and fanatics, the kind of serious tree huggers.  The environmentalists were no fun.  They were like prohibitionists at a fraternity party," joked Schwarzenegger.

Schwarzenegger served as the keynote speaker as part of the Newsweek Global Environment Leadership Conference.