To say no to a third child due to climate change?

[ratussbaguss]

My DH wants another (3rd) baby. I think not, with climate change being one of my main reasons. I am already worried for our two DCs lives. Emotionally I could be persuaded but all the facts suggest its a bad idea.

AIBU?

Are you conflating climate change and population growth in your reasoning here?

Of course you are being reasonable. But generally no one should have more children than they want.

FML I've seen it all now.

I had to confess climate change has yet to appear on my ridiculously long list of reasons why I'm never having another child. Ever.

Since the U.K. population has been decreasing for a while I think people should have the number of children they desire, within reason.

Two children is perfectly reasonable, however if you’re heart is breaking at the idea of not having another child then I don’t see how anyone can judge. You don’t seem to feel that way though. I have one child and my palms sweat for his future when I think of climate change. Don’t put yourself through emotional turmoil by making yourself have a 3rd, if you’re not feeling it. Ultimately, it’s a choice you and your husband have to make based on your own feelings.

Thanks for all your input so far.

I'm not trying to get guardian brownie points 😂 or virtue signal. I really couldn't give a toss what other people think and I'm not basing my decision on what is best for the planet, it's about what is best for my kids - call that selfish but I am genuinely concerned about the lives my children will face.

I get what you're saying that any reason is a good reason. Of course it is. I suppose I was just wondering whether other people feel this strongly about it/would it trump a general desire to have another child etc

@Nandakanda

Populations of Indonesia, Pakistan and Nigeria - to name but a few - all reproducing away without a second thought for climate change or anything else.

Why shouldn’t you?

Indonesia has a fertility rate of 2.27 children per woman. Thats just above replacement.

OP: “I really couldn't give a toss what other people think”

Also OP: has literally started a thread to find out what other people think.

Not sure I’m following I’m afraid. You posted saying you were saying no to a third child but now it’s not about the planet, it’s about your existing kids’ lives. I’m not sure in what way a third child is going to have a climate change impact on your existing kids. If you’re worried about bringing kids into the world, given climate change, then that makes perfect sense… but you’ve had 2 already.

It’s just a bit odd to be like, well I didn’t want a third as I was worried about what world they’d be living in. Unless your existing kids were born in 1985 when climate change awareness wasn’t the same?!

@phishy

What a pointless, virtue signalling thread. If you wanted to help the environment you’d have had zero kids. You clearly don’t care.

Totally this!

The kid in Waterworld did alright

I think the more immediate lack of Healthcare, Covid and social disorder are better reasons to not undergo any risky physical or financial activities in the UK right now. What makes him want a 3rd? Genuinely interested because in my mind I see a Motherland Kevin/dickhead with a bike trailer type man.

Yes that’s a good question. What would a third add to his life that he is not getting from his existing children?

How much will you not having another child help climate change? What else could you do to mitigate this?

Will it make enough of a difference there to offset against other issues? If you are in the U.K., we are heading for a ‘top heavy’ population with more ageing (and economically inactive) humans than those in the younger generations which will cause all sorts of challenges in itself.

Who knows what will happen in the future - maybe your 3rd child would invent some technology that helped prevent far more damage to the planet than an additional person’s footprint would.

www.top1000funds.com/2018/11/top-heavy-populations-imperil-pensions/

Since the U.K. population has been decreasing for a while I think people should have the number of children they desire, within reason

Where are you getting this from? The UK population is growing - albeit at a slower rate - but it’s growing!

You don't need to justify not wanting another child.
The whole using climate change as a reason baffles me as people had children in much worse/uncertain circumstances like war etc. If big things like that were to stop people having children, the human race would've died out decades ago.
If you want another child, have one. If not, don't. Its as simple as that.

@Draggondragon

I think the more immediate lack of Healthcare, Covid and social disorder are better reasons to not undergo any risky physical or financial activities in the UK right now. What makes him want a 3rd? Genuinely interested because in my mind I see a Motherland Kevin/dickhead with a bike trailer type man.

Would you ask this to a woman wanting a third? Would she be described in such an odd way too?

Why does he want a third ?

@Nandakanda

Populations of Indonesia, Pakistan and Nigeria - to name but a few - all reproducing away without a second thought for climate change or anything else.

Why shouldn’t you?

This

Also Didn't India and China just water down the COP agreement - the 2 biggest polluters. They need to sort their own shit out before people criticise others for how many children they want/have

Me and my uterus is no one's business. Birth rates are falling across Europe -below that which required to sustain healthy economies in some instances. We ll all be paid to have children in a few years time

If that is the full reason Yabu.

@Draggondragon
I think that comment says a lot more about you than anyone else.

I completely understand your worries. To be honest,I dont understand really how anybody can bring a child into this world with a horrid future as prospect.I suppose,it is human instinct of survival.we are not different to animals in regards to reproduction.But we as humans have a higher functioning conciencense.I am not one of the people,who say having children is polluting the planet,but to have at least concern for their future,means you care and think.So many people just reproduce without thinking.

@4amstarts
Also Didn't India and China just water down the COP agreement - the 2 biggest polluters. They need to sort their own shit out before people criticise others for how many children they want/have

1. I don’t believe their governments/media are criticising how many children Western countries are having, you just made that up.
2. No, India is not the worlds 2nd biggest emitter. Get your facts straight.
3. Countries including the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and S.Korea all have a far bigger footprint per person that China. They are all also ranked lower than China by the UN in its report on each country’s overall response to climate change.

YANBU

It confuses me that 3 is too much due to climate change, but it was OK to have 2. You're worried for their lives, but you didn't stop to think of that before having them and it didn't worry you enough to not have them. Why not? Why was it OK to bring them into the world but not a third?

You might as well have a third really, you've already brought two kids in, a third isn't going to make a difference, if you can afford it. Plus it helps even it out for those of us that aren't having any children for many reasons including climate change.