Well, it looks like California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has tired of low poll numbers and the scorn of his friends in Hollywood, and has decided a meaningless symbolic gesture might help undo some of the damage to his image.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared war on global warming by imposing bold new greenhouse gas targets emissions on the most populous US state.

The former action star used the UN World Environment Day conference, attended by mayors from the world's most populous cities, to announce the plan that comes despite Washington's refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on the environment.

He formally launched the gathering with a signing of an executive order mandating that greenhouse gas emissions in California be cut to year 2000 levels in the next five years, and that they be 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

"California will continue to be a leader in the fight against global warming and protecting our environment," the movie tough guy told the conference where he stole the show and received a standing ovation.

Of course global climate won't be affected by local emission controls in California, but the governor "stole the show and received a standing ovation", and that's what really matters, right?