Climate Change And Family Planning
Difficult truth time: A child born today will live on a planet that’s hotter than it has ever been since human civilization developed. And us humans? We’re the ones who created this problem.
According to one study, each child born in the United States adds thousands of tons of carbon dioxide to their parents’ lifetime carbon legacy. While some prospective parents rightly question whether it’s ethical to have children and thus contribute to our global warming woes, others wonder whether it’s fair *to the child* to bring them into a world with such an uncertain – and perhaps unstable – future.
The decision to have a family is a profoundly emotional and personal one that’s made more complex with looming climate threats. When it comes to taking drastic measures to curb global warming, is the onus of responsibility on us individuals? Or is it on polluting, business-as-usual corporations and other systemic forces?
It’s Difficult Decisions Week on the podcast and on today’s show my guests and I tackle the most difficult one of all: family planning in the era of climate change.
Here’s a preview:
[9:00] Breaking down the carbon emissions numbers and adding in legacy
[12:00] Is it ethical to bring a child into a world that’s rapidly warming?
[14:00] Thoughts on intentionally having children and raising them to be stewards of the planet
[20:00] The paradox of privilege: if we’re privileged enough to not feel the effects of climate change, can/should we go on living as usual?
[24:00] It all comes down to hope. How hopeful are you?
Further Reading:
- Should You Not Have Kids Because Of Climate Change? It’s Complicated. (via The Washington Post)
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