He was speaking to a room packed with students and luminaries at Yale University who had gathered to witness US governors sign a declaration on climate change that stresses the need for federal and state partnership.

In addition to Schwarzenegger, Governors Kathleen Sebileus from Kansas, Jon Corzine from New Jersey, and Jodi Rell from Connecticut attended the meeting. Also there were Canadian Premiers Jean Charest from Quebec and Gary Doer from Manitoba. IPCC chair and Nobel Prize-winner Dr. R.K. Pachauri also spoke.

But of all the speeches, the Hollywood star definitely stole the show.

“When I came to America 40 years ago people worked out [in the gym] in ways they were embarrassed to admit,” the governor explained. He said people like Clint Eastwood and Kirk Douglas wanted to avoid any association with the dungeon-like clubs where “fanatics” went.

But that all started to change Schwarzenegger said, “When a book, Pumping Iron, came out and then a movie.” (Schwarzenegger’s on screen career launched in 1977 when he starred in the body building film.) “Eventually the perception of body building began to change and today there are gymnasiums everywhere and normal people talk about their abs and their delts and six pack.”

“Environmentalists are also kind of weird fanatics—you know tree huggers and weeping willows,” he goaded the laughing audience. “For too long the environmental movement is powered by guilt. You know the kind of guilt that I’m talking about …in my case flying in a private plane or driving a big hummer. But I don’t think any movement has ever made much progress based on guilt.”

“I believe the environmental movement is switched over from being powered by guilt to something much more powerful, something much more dynamic, something much more capable of bringing about revolutionary change. It’s image is also changing from hand wringing and whining, to an image that is hip, that is cutting edge, forceful and self confident. Even sexy.”

While the declaration signed didn't contain much the attending governors haven’t already committed to, it was an opportunity to reiterate their frustration with the lack of federal leadership on addressing climate change and determination to go ahead without it.

“Let’s start with what’s not going on at the federal level and that’s everything,” said governor of Kansas Kathleen Sebelius “What we desperately need is clear federal policy. A set of rules that then will allow the utility executives, our legislature, our business community to make smarter decisions.”

When asked what he thought about the EPA’s recent rejection of California’s request to regulate tailpipe emissions, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine said simply, “See you in court.”

No gathering of politicians on a college campus would be complete without some kind of student march. But maybe representative of the solidarity of the day, the march consisted of about 30 Yalies chanting “terminate the heat” while a costumed snowman held a neon sign reading “Save me from melting.”