Climate change and not having kids

The ironic thing is that people who choose not to have children are the ones who are going to cause huge problems. Who on earth do they expect to keep the world functioning? The world needs a good balance of older and younger people so that water comes from the taps and food gets grown - population collapse is a major problem. Masses of elderly people with no younger generation to care for them is a disaster.

Eats meat
Ect typo
Artificial grass
Dubai

My brain hurts.

I've just adopting adopted 2 children because of this. I am one of those people (call me crazy) that think we are at capacity, children are still being born, into horrendous socioeconomic circumstances, a failing healthcare system and a dying ecosystem. I won't be producing more humans but I'm certainly going to help raise the thousands each born at the wrong time in someone's life.

I'm not surprised they feel this because of the current narrative surrounding climate change.

Jim Skea, who is the new head of the IPCC is saying that there is too much catastrophising and that we need to be much more positive by focussing on solutions.

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Don't get me wrong I'm like you, love flying , eat meat till it comes out of my ears ect but I don't have any respect for people who go on about climate change to others whilst lounging on their artificial grass planning their next trip to Dubai. I say this as I myself am lying on my artificial grass planning an Easter break to Dubai

@ComtesseDeSpair

Spot on. Albeit I don’t eat meat for ethical reasons, and also because it makes me superior.

I have two DC with my partner, but when we were trying to decide whether or not to have kids climate change and what the world might look like when they grow up was the major counter argument for us (which obvs didn't win).

It is also utterly revealing how many people have an issue with this being the reason, and how defensive they get in response.

But as the poster below says.

If you have no skin in the game (literally) why should you make sacrifices for those that do (and generally seem to care less)?

Those people are more than balanced out by the number of young people not having children.

Perhaps they want to keep living like this and not have to worry about the impact on their children? I love international travel, eating meat, driving fast cars, and turning the heating on full blast in winter, and have no intention of stopping. I’m just glad it wont be my children suffering the effects.

I will only believe that the actual reason is ' climate change' if Op's daughter in law doesn't fly, use a car, eat certain products, use delivery services ect. Honestly, the amount of people I know who drone on about climate change but have trans continental holidays a year and drive to work when they could walk it in 45 minutes staggers me

It's not your place to judge whether their reasons for having kids are good or not. That's up to them.

I sometimes wonder/ worry about the future my kids, and perhaps their kids, will have. It's scary. It wouldn't have been a reason for me not to have them, but at least your DS and his GF are thinking it through.

@YukoandHiro

You do realise that scientists have opposing views? All parties having done extensive research and there are many disagreements as to causes, impact, time scales ect. I'm pretty Switzerland on the whole issue. Just thought it was important to point out it's not as cut and dry as some sections of the media report!

This is quite possible. She might think that if she says she doesn’t want them you’ll start trying to persuade her.

It's not contested by scientists whose job it is to understand the shifts that are occurring.

Not wanting to contribute to further climate change by making more humans is why my husband and I won't be having children. I would never say this to anyone in real life because it would make them feel I am judging thier choice. But in my heart it is the main reason.

Maybe they just don’t want kids. I don’t think the kids of today will have very nice lives as adults due to climate change and the tanking economy and political unrest.

@taxguru

If him and his mates are into F1, I’m not surprised they don’t concern themselves with worrying about climate change!

Regardless of the reasons for not having kids, surely it's good they recognise they don't want them?

Nothing worse than a child not being wanted.

Or just doesn't think that having kids is something they want to do. Maybe she doesn't like children, maybe she has never wanted one, maybe the idea of growing a baby inside her grosses her out. Maybe she says it's to do with climate change because of narrow minded judgy people like you?

It's sad that they need to think this way, but it's entirely sensible to avoid having children for this reason. I think YABU to suggest this isn't a good enough reason.

We know that at the moment the climate is becoming more difficult to live with. Harsher, more unpredictable. So their pessimistic view makes as much sense as your more optimistic take on things.

I don't think most of us have our heads around the scale of change. It's very hard to know what will happen, and this often causes people to avoid taking risks - like having children.

@Appleofmyeye2023

I am wondering, how common is this amongst the late 20s and early 30s generation? Or is this a bit extreme?

It's extreme. Most people are delaying having children (or deciding not to) solely because of financial reasons as they simply can't afford them.

I think people generally are becoming more aware of climate change, but not to the extent of catastrophising about "how bad" it will be for the next generation, because, in reality, most things will be pretty similar for most people. Nothing extreme is going to happen in such a short period of time, whatever the doom-mongers may claim!

My son is home for the Summer after graduating, and we've had a few conversations about this and other topical matters, and he's very clear that it's a minority on the internet/social media with extreme views about climate change, transgenders, politics, and other "topical" matters which seem hot at the moment. He says in real life, people he knows to talk to in person at Uni, are mostly pretty ambivalent about it all - his "tribe" tried to avoid the extremists, the rallies, the more extreme clubs & society events, etc. He said they were mostly obsessed with football matches, formula 1, partying/clubbing etc, and other than being "careful" with recycling etc., they weren't really particularly bothered about climate change and didn't think it would really impact upon them, except for higher costs, higher taxes, etc.

I've never truly believed anyone 100% who's said they don't want kids due to climate change, or wars or anything like that.

I mean I get it may be a small part of it, but if one has a burning desire to have children, they'll normally find a way to make peace with whatever's going on in the world.

Bottom line is: it’s their choice.

I don’t go around berating people for having children, and if anyone berates me for not having children…well it hasn’t happened yet, but when it does I’ll tell them where to go.

I think the internet has certainly exacerbated these feelings of Armageddon. Intensified by the pandemic. I honestly do t blame them and would support them to be honest.