If the best thing we can do for the environment is reduce our impact, then should we stop having children?

Question

Especially, americans since we utilize almost a quarter of the world resources, but make up only 5% of the population.

Answer 1

The US tows the worlds economy, but soon it will stop based on the cost of energy/supply. The solution is to change the economics of Renewable Energy by creating sellable spin-off benefits.

Answer 2

The assumption is that we as humans actually have an impact on the environment. Its true that in specific areas industrial pollutants have and continue to destroy specific eco systems, however, on a planet wide basis, human impact on the environment is negligable.

I'm continually amazed at the naivete of some people who believe that progress and growth of the human race is somehow destroying the planet that we live on. The earth was given to mankind to make use of, not to ignore its bountiful resources. A question I always pose to people touting the evils of burning fossil fuels is.. "then what are they there for??".

Annual forest fires deliver more ash and air pollutants into the athmospere then all of the combustible engine pollutants ever will. Volcanic activity worldwide, produce more pollution then man would be able to in a thousand years. Decaying vegetation produces more carbon dioxide then man will ever have the capacity to produce. The single largest source of "green house gas" is water vapor. 98% of which is produced by water evaporation over the oceans. I dont see anyone wanting to block out the sun over the oceans!!

The most hidious myth out there is the one you just quoted about the 5% of the population vs the 25% of the resources. Think about what we do with that 25%. We as Americans have learned to use the resources to the fullest efficiency. We can derive more BTU's out of each pound of fuel then anyone else in the world. I dont see anyone going to the third world countries and telling them they cant burn wood anymore because its "BAD' for the environment. What Americans do with the resources made available to us is to feed and clothe the rest of the world.

Lets stop acting like America is the evil geni here. Lets recognise that America was the first to install pollution control devices in our industrial centers, while China, Russia, India and Africa all whined that they could'nt afford to. Lets also recognise that in the Kyoto accords...the US and Britain were the only countries being asked to give up our progress and growth, while the other countries were all exempted from the regulations, while at the same time, demanding that the US pay them for their lack of energy development.

Just an aside to the idiot that thinks we should ban automobiles.....remember that when you want your mommy to drive you to the mall to play video games.

Answer 3

Where are the people in Yahoo answers are coming from.? Why would having children and impact on environment would be related. The world is for people. That is the most important thing to rember. If having people is bad for the enviorenment so be it. Ofcourse the thing to do is to educate the people so that they don't mess up the environment. There are four apartments on each floor in the building I live in. One apartment has been vacant for a while. Two of the tenant don't care about the recycling. They fill up the garbage cans with all sort of things although there are separate garbage cans for paper and for cans. This is irresponsibility. That should be dealt with by sanitation department. But the solution is not to stop having children.

Answer 4

Why ot just kill of all the old people while we are at it, go "Soylent Green" or "Logan's Run" on them? (Sarcasm)

China tried what you have suggested and now they are subsidizing larger families.

The problem is not that we are having children but that there are just too many of us. Supply and demand. That is why people have had so many wars. The problem is we stopped having so many wars. Does that mean we should have more wars? (Sarcasm) I don't tink so.

You care about the environment. Do what you can. It may not help any. Then again it might. At any rate it will be expensive. Many will die trying to afford it. And when it is done, only the surviors will come to enjoy it, and for how long is uncertain.

And that utilize thing is misleading. We manufacture things. We pay for things. We do that because of what we use. It is economics. Things flow in. Things flow out, The world benefits.

The irony of what you ask is hilarious. Who are you saving the envirnment for if not your children?

Answer 5

the idea of being professional ecosystem and professional eco-friendly is about saving what we've. distinctive the topic matters we've proper this second are the direct results of large marketplace that has, traditionally, no longer had to clean up its act with the aid of the undeniable fact that's greasing the palms of politicians. There are different, personal, aspects too -- a lot of which arose from the "disposable 70's", which featured plastic disposable razors, milk in bags somewhat of returnable plastic jugs of the 60's. gasoline, obviously, is a biggie -- with human beings using a route they could quite walk. Being professional abortion is about finding out no matter if one is mature sufficient to undergo and carry a baby. for most folk, being professional abortion is actual about being professional selection and declaring that they couldn't choose yet another man or woman's morals and ethics. In Canada, felony abortions are complete in the previous the middle of the embryo starts off beating -- I look to remember that it really is about 4 months or so, yet do not quote me on it. IMO, the single has *no longer some thing* to do with the different.

Answer 6

The best thing we can do to lessen the impact on the environment is to eliminate personal automobiles. Or, severely restrict their use and prohibit them from being used to commute for daily or routine activities.

Answer 7

Humans are the only organism not required for the Earth to function. We ARE a virus, so drastically limiting our population growth is a fine start.

Answer 8

If we stop having children, who will we teach to take care of our planet? What better way than to teach your children? Who else would listen to you?
I do find it ironic that at Lake Tahoe, Humans are far from the top ecological concern. Geese and their feces are. I find that very ironic. Even without humans, the Earth still has pollution.

Answer 9

NO, just reduce the surplus population with designer viruses like the AIDS virus and the "still in development", Bird Flu pandemic that they are prepairing us for.

Answer 10

It doesn't make a big difference in my view , most importantly , however I think is to improve our actions towards the environment