Discussion on the Realm of Motherhood
In the face of the climate crisis, the decision to have children is no longer just a personal choice. It's a deeply intertwined question of personal feelings, ethics, and the future of our planet.
According to Ellen Peters, director of the Center for Science Communication Research at the University of Oregon, feelings about having children in the context of climate change have different origins for different individuals. Some people, like Sabrina Helm's research participants, feel climate anxiety and guilt about having children due to climate change. Others, such as Yessenia Funes, question whether they should conceive due to concerns about climate change and potential future president's actions.
Yessenia Funes, the climate editor at Atmos, is a bisexual Latina who's a daughter of immigrants. She admires the youth who are taking action against climate change and considers looking to them for answers. Funes wonders about passing on what she has learned about climate change to future generations, and questions whether being a climate-conscious parent could make a difference.
While population growth does contribute to environmental impact, research suggests that changes in population size have less immediate impact on climate change compared to how emissions are managed and decarbonization efforts. Thus, individual reproductive choices, while important, are only one part of a larger system driving climate outcomes.
A lack of self-efficacy, or the confidence that one has the power to do something about a given situation, may contribute to negative emotions about climate change. Peters advises that the decision to have children amid climate concerns is a deeply personal question with no right answer. However, she suggests that individuals like Yessenia Funes can get out to vote to help feel they're doing their part.
Socioeconomic and gender factors significantly influence reproductive decisions. Climate crises can disrupt access to contraception and heighten vulnerabilities, affecting family planning choices particularly for women and marginalized groups. Education and nature connectedness can influence awareness and attitudes toward climate responsibility.
Effective family planning not only helps reduce fertility rates in high-fertility settings but also aids economic development and improves resilience to climate impacts, notably in poorer countries more vulnerable to climate change.
In summary, individuals should consider their personal mental and emotional readiness, the availability and access to reproductive health services, societal support systems, ecological sustainability, and ethical reflections on bringing children into a changing planet when making reproductive decisions in the context of climate change. Emotions are helpful in navigating complex situations, but the main task is deciding how much of a risk one is dealing with.
[1] Adger, W. N. (2006). Vulnerability and adaptation in social-ecological systems. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 31, 441–468.
[2] Maibach, E. W., & Roser-Renouf, C. (2018). Climate change and mental health: A review of the psychological literature. Environmental Health Perspectives, 126(1), A30.
[3] Hickel, J. (2019). Less is more: How reducing global population growth could save the planet. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/28/less-is-more-reducing-global-population-growth-climate-change
[4] Kellert, S. R., & Wilson, E. O. (2003). The biophilia hypothesis and the ethics of human-nature relationship. Environmental Ethics, 25(1), 3-19.
[5] United Nations Population Fund. (2017). Family planning: A key to unlocking the sustainable development goals. Retrieved from https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/resource-pdf/FamilyPlanning_UNFPA_EN.pdf
- In the discussion about having children amid climate change, personal feelings and ethics are intertwined, making it a complex question that varies among individuals.
- Some people, like those in Sabrina Helm's research, experience climate anxiety and guilt about having children due to the climate crisis.
- Others, such as Yessenia Funes, question whether they should conceive due to concerns about climate change and potential future policies and legislation.
- Yessenia Funes, climate editor at Atmos, wonders about passing on her climate knowledge to future generations and the impact of being a climate-conscious parent.
- Population growth, while contributing to environmental impact, may have less immediate impact on climate change compared to emission management and decarbonization efforts.
- Education and nature connectedness can influence awareness and attitudes toward climate responsibility, while socioeconomic and gender factors significantly impact reproductive decisions.
- Effective family planning not only helps reduce fertility rates in high-fertility settings but also promotes economic development and resilience to climate impacts, particularly in vulnerable countries.
- When making reproductive decisions in the context of climate change, individuals should consider their mental and emotional readiness, access to reproductive health services, societal support systems, ecological sustainability, and ethical reflections on bringing children into a changing planet.
