Future Perfect

Should I still have kids if I’m worried about climate change?

Apr 21, 2021

01:02:50

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Are You Saying No to the Things in Your Life That Make You Feel Meaningful?

01:57

The Impact of Having One Less Child on Climate Change

02:35

Climate and Population Growth

01:54

Introduction

2min

The Biggest Impact on the Planet Is the Choice to Create Another Child

2min

Did You Get Any Strong Reactions From the Public or the Media?

2min

Why Do You Think We Should All Commit Suicide?

2min

Do You Have Kids or Plan to Have Kids?

2min

Are You Thinking About Having One Less Kid?

4min

The Impact of Having One Less Child on Climate Change

3min

Climate and Population Growth

2min

Are We Going to Tell People to Have Less Kids?

2min

10.

Is It Really Important to Donate One Thousand Dollars to Super Effective Climate Charities?

3min

11.

Is Your Donation a Carbon Offset?

4min

12.

Is It a Distraction?

2min

13.

The Power of the Average Citizen

2min

14.

Are You Dooming Your Kids to a Bad Future?

2min

15.

Do You Want to Be a Mother?

2min

16.

Parenthood

3min

17.

Climate Change

2min

18.

Climate Change

2min

19.

Climate Refugees - Is That a Threat?

2min

20.

Is It Morally Acceptable to Have Kids?

3min

21.

The Role of Priors in Meaning Making

2min

22.

Is Cutting Down Rainforests Causing Climate Change?

2min

23.

How Can I Be a Good Ancestors?

2min

24.

Are You Scared of What You'll See When You're Eight?

2min

25.

Are You Saying No to the Things in Your Life That Make You Feel Meaningful?

2min

26.

Climate Science and the Human Emotions

2min

Climate scientist Kimberly Nicholas co-led a study that showed the single most effective thing an individual can do to decrease their carbon footprint is have fewer kids. Despite that finding, she still says that people who really want to have kids should go ahead with their plans. She explains how she squares that circle to Vox’s Sigal Samuel, and the two discuss how to think about the decision to have kids or not and how to make meaning in a warming world.

Read more of Sigal’s climate reporting:

More information about Dr. Kimberly Nicholas

Find her new book here
Read more of her writing on her website
The podcast she recommended called So Over Population

Host:

Sigal Samuel (@SigalSamuel), staff writer, Vox

Producer:

Sofi LaLonde (@sofilalonde)

More to explore:

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