As an ecologist I am acutely aware of the dire environmental issues stacking up against us maintaining our current oil lubricated western lifestyles for much longer. I am also aware that our present ways are seriously depleting this planets ecosystems. I do not see this as a humans versus other animals issue – if you think about it humans must always be part of the solution and how can we step outside ourselves or the system anyway? I love people, I love our cultural diversity and our amazing creative talents just for starters. I also enjoy interacting with wildlife and wild places. I am under no illusion that the world revolves around me, or humans, or even that life itself on this planet is necessary – My simple understanding of astronomy and the universe puts paid to any such notions. But here’s the rub, our current way of life is massively impacting on the other living things on this planet in a way that I really don’t feel comfortable with. And one of the largest problems is the sheer number of us and the way we live. I would rather that there were fewer of us so that our impacts less dramatic and we lived within a sustainable ecosystem. Not one based on such rampant exploitation. I accept that this is a egocentric argument, in as much as, I would get pleasure if we somehow did this. I have no way of knowing if the other organisms on this planet would be happier with this suggested change (clearly some people couldn’t care less). I am no advocate of extreme measures but would suggest that basic ecological theory indicates that one way or another the massive explosion in human population we are seeing will be regulated in some way – exactly how and when is up for debate, but I would put money on it being sooner rather than later. Surely the preferable way would be with some form of informed and proactive action, rather than some of the alternatives we are staring down the barrel (pun intended)?

In the end, I think I’d rather see no one die, and certainly not from starvation.

Having children DOES hurt the environment. I wish it was not true, but it is.

Instead of supporting his argument, the author implies we should not blame babies for being born and should promote contraception. I’ll agree with those two points, but the fact remains that having babies is not good for the environment. (Humans born into western society where consumption and pollution have a disproportionately massive impact on the environment. Even “green” westerners have a tremendous negative impact on the world environment. They’re only slight less worse than “regular” westerners.) No matter how much you wish it weren’t so you can’t change reality. Even if the thought of negative population growth is bleak, that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done. Please don’t confuse the way you wish the world was with the way it is.

Do the editors of this site even read the articles posted?

I respect people who have decided not to have children greatly but what is it with all these generalisations about how wasteful families are and if you are intelligent you will choose this and that. I have been an environmental activist for a long time, this line of argument does not win people over. It is easy to say how great you are and be self rightous but how effective are you being? How do you view people? Do you see the human or are they your enemy ?

It is too late for alot of species on earth but humans are able to change things very quickly when there is a critical mass of people who are convinced a particular idea is worth it. And even if the worst case occurs environmentally, we in the first world will still survive. This is an extremely sad thought but there is opportunity to improve the outcome. We need to have some faith in people and work together. Parents have a lot invested in the future of the planet afterall.

That said, while I believe it is a right, I think having children is tremendously bad choice on an intellectual level, and one that I hope I will never make. The world is better off with fewer people.

Basically, if you’re clever enough to be having this debate, chances are you shouldn’t be having kids, because the other 95% of people in the world really don’t care in the slightest, and will be having too many babies whether you like it or not.

I suspect the world as a whole will have some very difficult decisions to make as the true ramifications of climate change become apparent over the next 20-50 years. Unfortunately, by that time the decisions will probably be moot, anyway. So it goes.