this post was submitted on 18 Aug 2023
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[–] frostbiker@lemmy.ca 11 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Canadians, like most developed countries, already have a very low birth rate. If you want to reduce the growth of human population, you have to look at countries and regions where the birth rate is significantly higher than two children per woman.

If you are concerned about the carbon footprint of individual people, you need to look at where most of that carbon goes and what can be done about it. In Canada, the two major contributors are heating and car use, both of which would be reduced by transforming suburban single family home developments into walkable medium density mixed-use neighborhoods.

[–] rab@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

None of those are even close to as effective as not having kids though.

I'm not even talking carbon footprint entirely though, I mean why would you bring a human into a world that is almost surely over.

[–] mr_stevenson_ii@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Exactly. If you have a heart, you don’t generate an innocent being to suffer and to unavoidably increase the suffering.

[–] rab@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yup. I'm a 1994 kid and both my parents have apologized for bringing me into the world. Back then things weren't so bleak though and they were rich at the time too so I can't fault them.

So proud that my parents are intelligent and are discouraging me and my siblings from having children. The family name dies with us.

[–] snoons@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago

Funny to hear that, because like exactly the same here.

[–] cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's humanities disease though. Survive at all costs. Getting metro 2033 vibes right now.

[–] rab@lemmy.ca -1 points 1 year ago

We are parasites since we discovered agriculture

Mother earth is correcting it now though, as she always has

[–] EhForumUser@lemmy.ca -2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

If the world is almost surely over, then you won't have a heart. These are the concerns of someone who thinks that life will go on for a long time.

[–] mr_stevenson_ii@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I’m not surprised that you feel defensive.

[–] EhForumUser@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I'm not surprised either. I doubt anyone here failed to feel the concern that we have a long life ahead, allowing hearts to remain and children to suffer.

But is it realistic? On what basis do you think we have such longevity ahead of us? Perhaps the claim that the world is about to end is the more viable conclusion?

[–] frostbiker@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have brought two wonderful people to this world because I don't underestimate humanity's ability to understand, adapt and overcome the challenges ahead. Humans have lived and thrived through much tougher times in history. A defeatist attitude sure won't help.

[–] rab@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I can understand your viewpoint since you already have children. I apologize if my words were harsh, btw

[–] frostbiker@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago

Nothing to apologize for. I understand that some people, particularly those who are young, environmentally conscious and lacking financial stability, look at the world and think that it's all going to shit.

I'm old enough to remember the cold war and the fear we had of nuclear holocaust and nuclear winter. It's just an example, there have been doomsday headlines every day for as long as I've lived and every single time humans have prevailed.

I'm not saying climate change isn't serious, it is very serious. I'm saying our children and grandchildren will, for the most part, live good lives. Better than our lives in some ways, worse in others, just like it's always happened. People adapt.