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

Future Perfect

Vox Media Podcast Network

Politics, Society & Culture, Philosophy, Tech News, News

4.5 • 622 Ratings

🗓️ 21 April 2021

⏱️ 62 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

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: Having fewer kids will not save the planet Where to donate to improve climate policy It’s not just Big Oil. It’s Big Meat too. 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: Subscribe to Vox’s Future Perfect newsletter, which breaks down big, complicated problems the world faces and the most efficient ways to solve them. We always want to hear from you! Please send comments and questions to [email protected]. Subscribe to Future Perfect on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app to automatically get new episodes of the latest season each week. Follow Us: Vox.com Support Future Perfect by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start.
0:04.6	Thumbtack knows homes, so you don't have to.
0:07.6	Don't know the difference between matte paint finish and satin,
0:10.9	or what that clunking sound from your dryer is.
0:13.9	With Thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro.
0:16.6	You just have to hire one.
0:17.6	You can hire top-rated pros, see price estimates, and read reviews all on the app.
0:23.7	Download today.
0:25.6	I'm Eliza Barkley, Box's Science, Health, and Climate Editor.
0:30.0	This April, our podcasts are teaming up to cover some of the most important issues threatening
0:34.4	life on Earth.
0:35.6	From sustainability to biodiversity to straight-up cool things about the natural world,
0:41.1	will focus on our planet and its limits in episodes throughout the month.
0:46.0	Tune in to Today Explained, Vox Conversations, The Weeds, Unexplainable, Worldly, Future Perfect, and Vox quick hits.
0:55.2	Want to listen to all the shows?
0:56.9	Find them at Vox.com slash Earth Month.
1:04.1	Welcome to FuturePerfect.
1:08.2	I'm Sigal Samuel.
1:12.7	A growing contingent of young people are refusing to have kids or are considering having fewer kids because of climate change.
1:21.4	Maybe you've heard of birth strikers, the women who've announced that they won't procreate until the world gets its act together on climate.
1:30.0	Maybe you haven't made such a clearer pronouncement yourself, but you're kind of wondering if
1:35.0	maybe the climate crisis should shape your big lifestyle decisions too.
	...

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