A bipartisan reunion in Long Beach

It was giving main character energy at the 2026 California Economic Summit in Long Beach this week, where current Governor Gavin Newsom and his predecessor Arnold Schwarzenegger linked up for a "fireside chat." The duo were there to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the California Global Warming Solutions Act, a piece of legislation that effectively changed the game for the state’s environmental policy.

The legacy of the 2006 Act

Signed by Schwarzenegger back in 2006, the law required California to cut greenhouse gas emissions down to 1990 levels by 2020. According to the state, they actually hit that 30% reduction target ahead of schedule. They made it happen through strict mandatory emission caps for major industrial players and a statewide cap-and-trade system.

Schwarzenegger didn't hold back when talking about the history of the bill, noting that he had to fight the Bush administration to get it done. "I was going through the struggle," he said. He emphasized that for him, the work was always about the people rather than playing party politics, lowkey taking a jab at the partisan gridlock that defines so much of today’s discourse.

Navigating the federal 'vandalism'

Newsom leaned into the friction between Sacramento and D.C., calling out the current administration's stance on climate rules as "vandalism." He noted that because of a "lack of federal leadership," California has been forced to take the lead, even shouting out Republican President Richard Nixon for establishing the EPA back in the day.

"We have no peers," Newsom said, claiming California is absolutely dominating when it comes to energy innovation and job creation in the green sector.

The ongoing legal battle

It hasn't all been smooth sailing. The state’s environmental rules, including the Global Warming Solutions Act, have been hit with constant legal and legislative pushback. President Trump has been particularly vocal, trying to repeal key EPA findings and revoke waivers that allow California to set its own strict vehicle emission standards. While a federal judge recently blocked those attempts, the drama is far from over. Meanwhile, critics argue the Act gives regulators way too much power and that the cap-and-trade system unfairly lets wealthy companies keep polluting, which is a major L for environmental equity.

Why it matters

California’s climate policies are a massive flex that often sets the standard for the rest of the country, and this public show of unity between a Democrat and a Republican highlights just how high the stakes are for the state’s environmental future.