With California attempting to lead the states in reducing carbon emissions, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is pushing solutions not only through policy but also individual action.
The governor is making a push to get individuals to take responsibility for their own fuel use – saving money at the gas pump and contributing in their own small way to reducing global warming.
Schwarzenegger is the spokesman for a new education initiative called EcoDriving USA, with support from automakers, auto dealers and the Environmental Defense Fund.
In that role, he makes a powerful pitch: "We hear a lot of ideas from politicians about lowering the gas prices and fighting global warming, whether it's biofuels, offshore drilling or nuclear power. But none of those will affect the gas prices right now. Only you can do that."
He gives specifics on how to reduce fuel costs by more than 15 percent: "I'm talking about simple things like proper tire pressure, avoiding rapid starts and stops, and keeping your engine tuned."
He concludes that "we don't have to wait for the politicians to take action. Each of us has the power to make a difference, right now." Schwarzenegger also encourages people to "buy a hybrid car that gets 50 miles to the gallon."
What's disappointing, however, is how minimalist Schwarzenegger's approach is – limited to promoting more efficient use of gasoline. He could instead use his star power to encourage real conservation – using other modes of transportation (walking, biking, carpooling or riding transit) and planning ahead to combine car trips ("trip chaining"). Such practices not only save gas but also reduce air pollution and traffic congestion.
We'd like to see Schwarzenegger issue a conservation challenge. Why not ask Californians to eliminate two (or more) car trips a week? A "drive less" campaign would be a more effective way to jump-start alternatives than a "drive efficiently" campaign.
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