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?

Well at a U.K. population level if we end up with fewer new humans than older ones there’s a problem. Who will do the work and keep the economy going for the larger proportion of older and economically inactive people then?

Agreed, but individuals don't need to take this in to consideration. My point being is that most people have an idea of how many children that they want and then give it the best narrative they can. So, people say they don't want a third because it's not eco friendly - not because it's expensive, it requires more effort, the laundry is ridiculous.

I have three - I could pretend I'm doing it for the country and to stop the cascade of social consequences from an aging population but I just like having a bunch of kids.

@PiffleWiffleWoozle

It's not like you are required to balance the books though.

Well at a U.K. population level if we end up with fewer new humans than older ones there’s a problem. Who will do the work and keep the economy going for the larger proportion of older and economically inactive people then?

For a zero growth population you need slightly more than 2 people per person on average. So some people having 3 children (where others may have 0, 1, 2 or more than 3) isn’t necessarily a bad thing for U.K. society overall.

U.K. is currently at 1.53 children per woman, so well below replacement rate of 2.1. The total population is only increasing due to immigration.

So, there is valid concern in UK about overpopulation as density is currently at 280 people per sq km, compare that to the USA at 34 people per sq km, or even China at 159 people per sq km.

But the cause of UKs high population and high density is not due to women having too many babies as the fertility rate is well below replacement. If you want to change the population upward trend, immigration controls is what are needed.

I stopped at 2, environmental factors played a part in that decision.

Yes exactly @PlanDeRaccordement

Plus reducing (vs stabilising) population numbers has some potential downsides for the population as a whole.

YANBU. It's your choice as well as his but ultimately your body.

Will you:
Only use your car for emergency.
Have one car only for the family.
Not fly for family holidays.
Buy 2nd hand
Stop upgrading tech devices
No plastic use at homditto detergentetc

Yanbu. Stick at 2. The future is bleak, we don't need more people, the planet cannot sustain earth's population as it is and why stretch yourself so thinly?

YANBU

Thank you to everyone who has answered my question in the spirit with which it was intended. I don't have an abusive husband, don't worry, no one is pressuring me into being pregnant forever. I think it seems like there are other people who agree that climate issues / what the world will look like for our kids are a valid reason not to keep having more, and something others are thinking about. Obviously I should have not had any children if I were "that bothered" but the situation is where it is and I'm talking about having another or not, not getting a time machine 🤪 anyway thank you everyone who is validating my concerns

So, you weren't that bothered and now you are that bothered, which just happened at the exact same point that most women with access to contraception stop having children? Convenient.

Sorry, I'm not ragging on you particularly, op. Apparently everyone with two kids on MN stopped before 3 for ecological reasons.

It's a fair comment except that I think I have been quite clear that my concerns are purely selfish about the state of the world for my kids, not because I would avoid having a third in order to save the world

Is it climate change or is it the effect of an exploding population putting pressure on the environment?

Off your climate change topic but which I understand is a huge concern but uk birth rate is only at 1.53 for British born mothers. more babies were born in the UK to migrant mothers than British mothers in the last 12months. UK is extremely overpopulated I've seen a massive difference in population in my 40 odd years. that's why services are so overstretched and there's a shortage of housing, school places, docs, dentist everything is at breaking point down to our huge and constantly growing population. its actually quite scary. If anything I think people should be discouraged from having more than 2 children as the country cannot cope. just look at Dover to see how our population is increasing by thousands each day all coming over on rubber dinghys!

Birth rate in the UK is very low at the moment. The population is not replacing itself which means we face a future with a huge proportion of elderly people and no one to care for them (or fund it). You should be having more children for societal reasons, not fewer

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/20/britain-falling-birthrate-covid-pandemic-conservatives-removed-support-for-parents

I agree with you, wise decision.

By having multiple children, you are taking away the chance for most women to feasibly have even one child and that is greedy and selfish.

By having multiple children, you are taking away the chance for most women to feasibly have even one child and that is greedy and selfish

Oh, go on then, I'll bite. How does that work then?

YANBU. Having one child alone also contributes to your carbon footprint more than ANYTHING else you'll do-and by a massive amount too. Who knows what state the planet will be in by the time your kids are adults. At least you're thinking of their future.

@FourTeaFallOut polish their eco 😇 🤣🤣

How awful would it be to grow up as a third child and have everyone including your own parents judge and criticise your existence due to climate change. For this reason I wouldn’t.

Generally I think people should have the children they want. We all die, just be happy. If you want a child have it, you don’t know what their life will be, climate change or not.

YABU
You don't want a third - that's your choice. You don't need to make up excuses.

No, it’s basic math. It's a basic concept yes, but not basic enough for you to get it. I've read your posts and know you're not very strong on logic in general.

@CatJumperTwat

No, it’s basic math. It's a basic concept yes, but not basic enough for you to get it. I've read your posts and know you're not very strong on logic in general.

Says the person who doesn’t even understand that younger generations (children) do in fact replace the older generations (adults).

I've not had any at all for that very reason, and I think you're entirely right to think that way. The world is already totally screwed IMO ... polluted beyond redemption, grossly over populated, rapidly dwindling natural resources, politically going to the dogs as more people fight over fewer space and resources .... What will it be like in 50 years from now when your child is an adult trying to survive?

Why on earth would you want to bring a child into a world like that?