Robert Kennedy Jr. had some big shoes to fill in terms of pursuing progressive causes, and he has carried the torch proudly. Kennedy has spent the past 20 years fighting for environmental causes. On Wednesday at 7 p.m., he spoke at U. Illinois on the topic of environmental policy and alternative energy sources. His main points were the inefficiencies of current energy sources as well as the failures of public policy.
“Using an internal combustion engine is like carrying around a 500-pound power plant,” he said. “It is incredibly inefficient.”
Kennedy said that many of the technologies we use today are wasteful, and there is a lot misinformation going around.
“There are these scientists that go on Fox News and tell everybody that global warming isn’t real,” he said. “It is like the Flat Earth Society.”
He said that the biggest falsehood is that the industry and the economy will suffer if we protect the environment.
“Good environmental policy is identical to good economic policy,” he said.
Investment in the green industry will spur job growth.
“That is where the jobs are,” Kennedy said. “That is where the economy is going to grow.”
An example he used was Brazil, whose economy has improved drastically since it decarbonized transportation. Kennedy said it is still continuing to grow economically, and it is now the fifth strongest economy in the world.
Kennedy also stressed the importance of protecting nature and the environment. He said the public benefits from the maintenance of nature both in the present and in the future. If a coal plant does not dump pollutants into a river, not only is the river clean today but humans will not be affected by health problems due to harmful mercury levels exposed to fish.
A central theme to Kennedy’s talk was his belief that special interests and corporations have continuously used their money to buy influence with public officials.
“I like corporations, but I don’t like them controlling our government,” he said.
Kennedy’s talk, delivered with strong emotions, received different opinions.
“I agree with him that if anything pushes alternative energies forward, it will be market forces,” said Phil Mekeel, UI senior.
Jessica Gao, UI sophomore, said she didn’t agree with all of his ideas but respected his dedication.
“He was very liberal in his views, but he did present some unique ideas for alternative energy,” Gao said. “He has stuck to what he believes for two and a half decades, and that is very admirable.”