Having Children & Environmental Responsibility

It’s been mentioned by green think tanks that having more than two children is bad for the planet. Some even propose that having more than one child is irresponsible. Most researchers have based their decision on a per capita carbon dioxide emission rate.

Some parents claim this is nonsense and those that stopped at one or two children had made their decisions based it on what they were comfortable with and their income.

Maybe having more than one or two children is environmentally irresponsible but basing the level of environmental responsibility on a carbon dioxide emission rate is nearly impossible. For instance, the average family of 4 may fly 5,000 miles a year but families of six and more may (and probably do) have a much smaller carbon footprint because of the reduced travel time, the reuse of clothing and other items and the all around natural lifestyle that larger families often live even if due to the need for frugality.

I am conscious of my responsibility to the environment and I don’t plan to base the decision of the size of our family on environmental responsibility. Environmental responsibility is something that can be taught to children and people. I believe a movement to educate about lifestyle (daily habits) would be much stronger than an effort to decrease reproduction.