having babies despite the state of the world

[TruthOnTrial]

I am wondering about any that are contemplating pregnancy at a time when the world weather is in crisis, fires ranging out of control across Aus, also california, and others. Floods regularly now around the UK, tornados even and more extreme weather generally, a summer just gone with record heatwave temps.

Many are making a decision to not start a family as the continuing viability of life on earth is ever more unsure.

Half a billion animals killed in the Aus fires alone. People having to lock themselves indoors and residents considering leaving Aus for good.

Is it U to consider bringing future children into this?

I have not read the whole thread, so apologies if this has already been discussed.

The problem with not having children is who will be left to support the large ageing population? What if there is no younger generation to step up? Health care is advancing, people are living longer, but having fewer and fewer children, which puts increasing pressure on the smaller younger generation to support the elderly.

I know that things need to change for the sake of climate change, but surely we need a responsible young generation, who care about the future of the planet. Stopping having children entirely would surely end in disaster?!

Back to the Old World on ancestry visas I suppose

@Charlottejbt I really think a lot of Brits don't understand this: some of us are Australian and nothing else. Not eligible for any sort of ancestry visa from any other country. We don't see ourselves as British/Irish/German or whatever. We're Australian.

Theres a lot of worry but there's also a lot of room for optimism
Have a look at ourworldindata.org to see how things have actually been getting better.

I work with climate scientists and unfortunately they are some of the biggest hypocrites I've met. They are always flying to the other side of the world, to some conference or other or flying to the Arctic to measure icebergs. I do believe the science but I do wonder why these people don't change their practice.

Have you watched that Hans Rosling ted talk on population from a few years back?

As poorer countries become more developed, women have access to education and healthcare and legal rights and have fewer children.

Women in western countries already have small numbers of children. I agree the world is a state but a steady drop off in population growth is optimal, otherwise you have a disproportionately large older population which also causes problems.

I don't think it's wrong to have one or two children, so long as you push for environmental policies from politicians and act ethically yourself.

I'm in Australia.... And about to give birth!
Despite the fires, I'd never leave. Australia is huge and it's not all on fire. Have had so many relatives call me to check we are OK, our nearest dangerous fire is like a nine hour drive away from where I live. When I explain this to said relatives they are telling me I'm wrong, in danger and that the whole of Aus is on fire! What is your media telling you?!! Yes, obviously there are fires and yes it's tragic as people's lives have been lost, but this happens every year unfortunately.

@hellofromtheotherside2020. Our media like to scare us. They are becoming less and less neutral

No, the media here is saying exactly where it is and the size of it, and that its truly out of control.

OP, you sound very dramatic and almost hysterical. The world isn't going to end. Every few tears there is a new hype that sonething will happen and we'll all die. When you get older you start to see the stories for what it is, stories. Plenty of people have pointed out facts instead of hysterical fiction. Why don't you look it up? Do you just want to cause panic? Or do you want to know the truth?

Why is MUMSnet full of people that have decided not to have children?

You're posting on a site for parents.

The planet is in the position it is, because of biology I'm afraid. Living organisms, including humans, are programmed to procreate, eat as much as we can, use up the resources we can get our hands on. Human beings are fundamentally greedy and definitely the planet would be better off without us.
But that's not really an option, and if you think you'd be a good parent, you shouldn't decide not to have kids just because of the planet. You not having kids won't really make any difference. And if you live in a first world country your kids will probably have a decent life regardless.
All of the intelligent people with highly active consciences won't have kids, and all the morons who don't give a shit will have dozens of them. Propelling us towards the abyss.
We're probably past the point of no return anyway.
I've had a wine or two, sorry Mumsnet

So you effectively want to end the human race? How hysterical. 🤷🏻‍♀️

But also, fuck it, kids are gorgeous and I've got one and I'll probably have another

I'm the Aussie girl again (who isn't on fire despite you probably telling me I am....beacuse the daily mail or whatever says so) .... Yes, there's out of control fires around the country but I've watched our news here in Australia and then watched your news on BBC iplayer and the difference in reporting is phenomenal. They were making out no where is safe...you can't escape to the ocean as you'd get eaten by sharks 😂 Like I said, my closest dangerous bush fire is over nine hours away. I don't think you quite comprehend how big our country is. We have fires every year, and this year's are the worst for a few years, however that's because of dry conditions and a lot of teenage arsonists....

I think you're being hysterical and trying to scaremonger people.
Just do your thing and let others do theirs. You're on a parenting site....telling others they shouldn't reproduce. I don't get your point....at all.

Do you drive a car? Do you ever light fires? Do you put your heating on? Use electric? Consume meat? Heat up water for a shower or bath? Been on a plane? Use plastic? If so, then you're not only hysterical and deluded, you're also a bloody hypocrite. You could have a couple with no children who fly abroad monthly and have a far bigger carbon footprint than a family of five who are vegan, bike everywhere and use no consumable plastics.
So instead of preaching about one little issue, why not look at the bigger picture and educate childbearing people about how they can contribute to limiting the effects of 'global warming' by making changes to their lifestyle.

So ironic too that your media go on and on so much about global warming and environmental damage yet your society seems set up for consumerism and every shop is chocca full of plastics!

You'll be telling me the barrier reef is dead and bleached next!

@PlanDeRaccordement

I'm curious to know how have we solved most of the plastic problem?

The world is definitely going to end for every one of us on the day we die.
After that day you won't be here to worry.
Be responsible while you are here. You can't control everyone else so either have children or not....your choice, then stop obsessing about it.

Is it the responsible thing to do, knowing what we do now about the demise of the planet's environment.

What was it, half a billion animals just killed?

This is what it looks like protecting your children on the front line of a climate disaster.
This mother in Mallacoota took her children out in a boat for the night to escape the raging bushfires which trapped 4000 people on the foreshore, waiting for a siren to tell them to submerge themselves in the sea if the worst happens.

There is every likelihood that over the course of the next generation, large parts of the world will become uninhabitable. Millions, if not billions, of parents and children are already on the frontline of disaster relating to climate change. We are not on the frontline yet, but could be within a generation, which is what our children will be facing with their children.

It now looks like 1.5 degrees of warming is unavoidable, and we are on course for 3+ degrees of warming by 2050 which would melt the ice caps and cause massive and irreversible weather system collapse.

I can understand all the reasons for people to deny this science. It's a horrible thing to face up to. But denying the science or pushing it away or minimising it isn't going to stop it happening.

Thats the reality which, if you don't actually see it can see just like scaremongering or hysteria.

All the while Sidney went ahead with fireworks, and two more are recorded dead.

I don't have children, but it's not because I'm worried they'd die in agony due to climate change.

There have always been a million disastrous possibilities to use to convince yourself not to have children. A child born in a prosperous country today has a wonderfully high chance at a happy life, compared to the vast majority of children born through the ages.

The world can be a dangerous and deadly place. That's the very nature of life. It's always a gamble.

I think thats missing the point hugely that this isn't the standard risks inherent in the environment around us, but the environment itself will kill us.

Aus is not an isolated event, its just one more extreme event that is currently getting a lot of coverage.

A child born today I think will tell you, like all the other children now growing up with this reality that they have inherited an abused planet and are desperate to see change that isn't happening.

The children around me are very vocal about this, in schools, on SM, everywhere, but they do not hold the power to make change, I hope they continue to march and shun schools worldwide to make their voices heard.

What is the point of living if we believe the world is at a point of self destruct? Can you really find nothing to live for? The world has huge issues yes, but is still a miraculous and wonderful planet, for now. A child is a joy and a symbol of hope and optimism. A falling population is actually a demographic problem in Europe. We need the next generation.

we need

Children are amazing, the world is amazing, but is becoming ever more dangerous for our children first and foremost as they have developing brains and systems and will suffer first, they are vulnerable, more vulnerable to this.

It's a wonderful and miraculous planet that is demonstrating its in huge trouble now, potentially fatally for supporting life for the next generation.

Nothing to live for?
This thread is about the planet, and its future viability for the next generation, what are you talking about?