Politics

Schwarzenegger: ‘Net Zero’ Is Bogus, Let’s Just Terminate Pollution

By Jake Beardslee · June 16, 2025

Arnold Schwarzenegger has dismissed the term “net zero” as meaningless and misleading, criticizing its widespread use in climate discussions. Speaking to The Sunday Times, the former California governor and actor said the phrase confuses the public and detracts from more actionable messaging.

“It’s a bull—-t f—-ing name,” Schwarzenegger said. “Go to a town like Leeds or Manchester and ask people, what’s net zero? They don’t know what the f—- that means.”

Schwarzenegger, who served as governor of California from 2003 to 2011, became known for his aggressive environmental policies, including legislation that significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions and improved public infrastructure to combat air pollution.

Now 77, Schwarzenegger hosts an annual climate conference in Vienna. Unlike traditional summits that emphasize bureaucratic targets, his event focuses on public messaging and practical steps. He prefers the slogan “terminate pollution,” a nod to his Terminator legacy, saying that it communicates clearly to the public.

“It’s all bogus,” he added of net zero goals. “The argument is, how do we go and terminate pollution? It’s not fighting about net zero or, oh, how many percentage points have you rolled it back from the 1990 level… What’s 1990 to do with anything? It’s just a stupid dialogue.”

Schwarzenegger also criticized the communication tactics of many environmentalists. “Environmentalists – their heart is in the right place and I’m very fond of their work,” he said. “But their communication skills really suck.”

He advocates for a simple, results-driven approach: “Let’s just start rolling back the pollution output by 25 percent. And that’s exactly what we did in California.”