AIBU to feel sorry for the children of today?

[RainNowPlease]

I read a Met Office report today which stated that temperature highs in the UK have increased by 4.5 degrees C over the past decade. If this trend continues, in 2036 we might have highs of 45 degrees and in 2046 (only 20 years away) highs of 50 degrees. Animals will be dying, more humans will be dying. I am so thankful to have had the foresight to not bring children into this situation as I can't even imagine how inhospitable the Earth might become in their lifetime. AIBU to feel sorry for children who will probably live to witness and experience unimaginable suffering?

A bit of an exaggeration...

I agree with you op, it's irresponsible of governments to pretend they care about children while they do nothing to make their future possible.
I remember summers in Kent being comparable to the west of scotland now. God knows what it'll be like in a decade.

I can understand completely
. We're all sleepwalking our way into a global disaster. I don't know the answer .Trump et Al think global warming is a conspiracy. What can you do when the president of the US is a science denier ?

Yes, feel sorry for them, but not only for this reaosn.

Why would you post this on a forum for parents?

There are a multitude of different people in different life situations on MN. Not just parents.
And similarly there are a multitude of different topics discussed.
OP has every right to raise this issue on MN.

I think it's a loads of BS but for 20+ years I have batch cooked, driven economic cars and walked when I could (now down to just one car between us). Boiled only the water we need, had low energy and then led bulbs, don't leave the tv on standby, turn everything off at the mains when it's been used, air fryer rather than oven. When we had an extension we got solar panels, then a battery.

Nothing to do with global warming. It saves me money. And that's where the environment groups have gone wrong. A hot summer, 76 was worse. Rain...it's Britain....but explain and push the money saving aspect

It's a bit tricky to put my teenage daughter back where she came from. I'm not sure she'll fit, but I'll send her your sympathy for existing. Sure it'll help

from a “children of today” point of view there are plenty of people who live through 45c summers. Surely you don’t feel sorry for the children of Southern Europe- Greece, Italy Spain Portugal etc?!

People who get their knickers in a twist now about economic migrants are going to be in for a treat when climate refugees start making their way to temperate zones like northern Europe.

This. It is going to be a totally different world.

Oh I agree OP has the right, of course. But I have the right to say all sorts of things I choose not to say because it isn't helpful.

Yes there are a multitude of different people on MN in different circumstances. But ultimately, it is a parenting forum and arguing it isn't is pretty obtuse.

My point is, choosing MN to voice this rather than, say, Reddit, is baiting many many people who are going to be deeply worried and anxious to hear someone telling them they shouldn't have had children and their children are going to experience 'unimaginable suffering '.

Of course, someone who isn't a parent won't understand how deeply disturbing that is to hear.

Happy summer holidays, parents. Just celebrating my daughter finishing primary school, living her best life and heading out into the world. She's here, she's loved, all I can do now is relentlessly try to give her the best future I can.

Who is arguing that MN isn't a parenting forum?

If you are telling people that only topics to do with parenting shoukd be posted on MN and everything else should be posted on Reddit then MN is going to be a pretty sparse Forum! There are countless threads on MN that have nothing to do with parenting for heaven's sake.

And people really would have to have buried their heads in the sand not to be concerned about the state of the world we live in and the future our children face. That doesn't mean those of us who have children love them any the less.

You lost me with your foresight

the weather is the bottom of the list of reasons children and our children’s children etc will be faced with

“The weather” 🫠

You have a point but what’s the point in fighting against global warming and climate change when powers all over the world are dropping bombs destroying the earth.
We will adapt to the warmer weather. I know of a few people who are having air conditioning installed, animals will die, 10,000’s of humans will be murdered by war and starvation by 2046 too.

I agree. I didn’t need to read this. I have two primary aged children. Thanks op for adding to my despair 🍷

I thought this was going to be about kids on YouTube / screens on prams LOL

You aren’t wrong that global warming is a problem. I think it’s a slight exaggeration to feel sorry for all new people for that reason. I think there are other reasons that will lead to the dumbing down of the very population who will need to solve big problems like climate change

My parents weren’t going to have children because of nuclear war. I’m in my 40s and glad they decided to go for it anyway.

Why the extreme fear mongering? Where does it get you in life?
Just put on a sandwich board saying THE END IS NIGH’.

It’s something many parents have discussed, and many teens are discussing, on here and elsewhere, why would you not mention it? This is a place for parents to share worries. Or it was.

We are happy to exchange the OP’s foresight for the joy our teens continue to give us.

Climate change might be the global threat which unites humanity. Maybe it’s having kids that keep us optimistic who knows.

(I think it’s a weird way to think that you revel in smug whilst almost hoping future generations suffer to verify your reproductive choices. It might just be displacement who knows? Just a bit odd)

If you have two primary school children you must have known about climate change and predictions for the world's future when you had them? Its hardly new information.
My children are older and it was widely discussed back before they were born even. But I'm either optimistic for technology solutions or pessimistic about a full blown world ending type scenario and figure life goes on in the meantime.

We are happy to exchange the OP’s foresight for the joy our teens continue to give us.

The OPs talking about your children not you though.