Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Climate Change

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who previously held strong environmental advocacy roles, states he believes climate change is an existential threat. During his confirmation hearing for Health and Human Services Secretary, he directly told a senator he agreed with the existential nature of the crisis, while simultaneously stating he and the President agreed to disagree on the topic. Despite this acknowledgment, his stated priority in the cabinet role is making Americans healthy, and environmental impacts of climate change have reportedly taken a back seat in his current focus.

His actions upon taking office suggest a prioritization shift away from federally funded climate-health research; he oversaw the cutting of National Institutes of Health programs dedicated to climate change and public health, including research on wildfire risks and heat-exacerbated diseases. Critics note that his past environmental work and current focus on environmental toxicity are now disconnected from the larger threat of climate change, with some suggesting his vision is short-sighted. In a 2011 testimony, he argued the reality of global warming and the urgency of transitioning to a clean energy economy, positioning it as vital for economic and national security.