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Are Your Kids Destroying the Earth?
September 17th, 2009 by Chuck SavittMany families who dutifully recycle, take mass transit, and have a house full of compact fluorescent light bulbs, would say they’re doing their part to save the earth. However, a new study from the London School of Economics suggests that in developed countries, making the decision to have children dramatically increases your negative impact on the environment. The study shows that, on average, each baby born in the United States adds 1,644 tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere during their lifetime, and argues that smaller family sizes are crucial to reducing carbon emissions. “There is no possibility of drastically reducing total carbon emissions, while at the same time paying no attention whatever to the drastic increase in the number of carbon emitters,” said Roger Martin, chairman of the nonprofit Optimum Population Trust.
Although this argument may be shocking, smaller family sizes are nothing new. Noting the worldwide trend towards smaller families in More, Robert Engelman points out that instead of having more children, mothers want more opportunities for their children. He argues that this trend would lead to less hunger and illness, and would benefit the environment as a result–but it hinges upon society’s willingness to give women the freedom to make their own decisions about reproduction. Noted scientist and author Paul Ehrlich agrees. He has been advocating for women’s reproductive rights and a smaller population since the publication of his book The Population Bomb. In his newest book The Dominant Animal, he makes the case that now, more than ever, our decisions about family size will have far-reaching impacts on our culture and our environment. The authors of the upcoming book A Pivotal Moment make a similar point, arguing that to build a sustainable future, both men and women need access to voluntary family planning, education, and employment; and, just as importantly, the need to address the deep inequalities that come with rapid population growth and unsustainable resource consumption.
The issue of what to do about population growth has been and will be debated for decades, but scientists agree there is no question about its impact on climate change. Population is an integral part of the discussion on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With global warming becoming a more pressing concern every day, we can’t afford not to discuss it.
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September 18th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
I couldn’t agree more that we need to be procreating less. I often hear pushback on this particular topic from friends, family and colleagues, many of whom are successful and well-educated, when I tell them I do not want children. Their arguments tend to run along the same lines: as an educated person myself, it’s my duty to have children so that the world is further populated with bright people. I’m not so arrogant as to think that I’m responsible for creating mini-me go-getters for the benefit of the planet. If it’s not the socio-economic argument, from men it’s that “I want to continue the family name” and from women it’s that “I have to know what being a mother is like.” I think all of these excuses are dangerous and selfish. We consume too much, it’s that simple. There need to be fewer of us. The world is well past its carrying capacity. The old arguments no longer apply.
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:19 am
Could not agree more. We are now rapidly heading for 7 Billion! Catholic church has a lot to answer for. Any family having more than 2 children is being highly irresponsible, in the extreme. It sounds harsh and is not easy to hear but nonetheless the human animal must learn to breed at far lower, sustainable levels. Population is the elephant in the room.
October 13th, 2009 at 10:49 am
This type of reductive thinking works backwards out of the idea that humans are net energy drains… as we are by participation in our consuming, environmentally disconnected culture. But children aren’t the golden bullet you’re looking for in solving “the earth’s” problems as you put them. If you had ever raised children on a real farm, not one of those environmental paradox “farms” that collects crap from sardine-packed, over-medicated cows and pumps it into a digester to concentrate methane for electricity generation that you use to charge your hydrogen powered car, so you can drive out to the mountains and go hiking with your organic leather boots and experience the joys of nature. Children on a non-industrial, family/friends farm will feed you and treat you polite while producing net positive energy , while you spend your life regretting your birth and wasting the true net energy benefit you could have been. Get off your technological horse and contribute instead of complaining. Try it and you’ll see. Have you ever heard of draft horses?