New Delhi: Hollywood action-movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday said he would be a "terminator" for climate change and asked state governments to follow Narendra Modi's "actions" as Gujarat Chief Minister to achieve sustainable development goals.
The former California governor, who has earned a reputation as a climate change activist, thanked and lauded Prime Minister Modi for his work, including as Chief Minister of Gujarat, to push for sustainable development and clean energy.
He said "Gujarat is California of India" and Modi had certainly created "good action".
Appreciating the progress made by Gujarat on climate change front, he said this showed that the state governments have tremendous power with them and they need not wait for the Central government for any action.
The film star, who is also the chair of R20 Regions of Climate Action - a non-profit organization - was addressing the 15th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS) organised by the Energy Resource Institute (TERI).
"This is a challenge of our time and that is why I am on a crusade for a sustainable future and terminate climate change once and for all," Schwarzenegger said.
The film-star turned American politician expressed hope that India, under Modi's leadership, would play a key role in the UN climate negotiations in Paris in December this year.
"I know that India would be a big player in negotiations and I trust that the Prime Minister would do everything that he can," he said.
The United Nations is pushing for an international climate agreement in Paris later this year that will limit global warming to two degrees Celsius over pre-Industrial Revolution levels.
Schwarzenegger also praised India's recent objective of achieving 100 GW solar energy target in five years.
"I promise you...I would continue my crusade, I would continue the firing, I would never give up... Till create a green and sustainable energy future," said Schwarzenegger.
Later at a press conference, Schwarzenegger said that many environmental communities forget to mention that global warming and environment is a "four-legged stool".
"They just talk about melting glaciers, rising sea level, warming etc... That's one issue. But the other important issue that needs to be addressed is the job issue. It also creates jobs and stimulates the economy," he said.
Noting that the third leg is health, he said that seven million people across the world are dying every year due to pollution related disease. In India alone, the number is over a million.
He referred to national security as the fourth leg and said that there was nothing more important than generating one's own safe energy through renewable resources.
Giving thumbs up to Modi's idea of covering the canals with solar panels, he said that he, as Gujarat Chief Minister, had started a solar revolution.
Later at a special session of the Summit, Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi said the biggest crime was to deny freedom to a child and a chance to dream.
"We are living in an unsafe world. Youths and children are unsafe because of climate change, terrorism, lack of protection, care and education in the world. We have two paths, either we are reactive to fears to save ourselves or be proactive so that we can stop them," he said.
Stressing the need for global passion, the Nobel Laureate said that path to reconnect the world is the that of compassion. He emphasised on connecting people with environment for betterment of generations to come.
Another Nobel Laureate Yuan Tseh Lee described climate change as the biggest enemy of the planet.
"It cannot be solved by the scientific community only but by everybody. To be successful, we have to be organized and work together. Population and consumption explosion has overloaded the Earth with many dangers. We need to wake up to the crisis," he said.
