Everything produces a carbon footprint. Although one might look to the combustion engine or the coal factory for the source of all our environmental woes, children in developed nations are an often-overlooked source of carbon dioxide emissions (C02). With more than an estimated 137 million orphan children currently in existence in the world, you have to ask yourself why would any sane person insist upon creating a new carbon producing child?
Civil wars, gender preference and AIDS are just a few of the reasons why children end up abandoned or orphaned.UNICEF estimates that each year more than 9.7 million young children die, often from pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, acute malnutrition and HIV. In fact, the UNICEF report The State of the World’s Children 2008, estimates that each year more than 26,000 children under the age of five die, mostly from preventable causes.
The carbon footprint of a North American child is usually as much as two to three times the average carbon footprint of a child in a developing nation.
Adopt or Not
Making the decision to adopt a child rather than birthing another life is an important choice on many levels. However, from a purely environmental standpoint it makes more sense for the planet to help a pre-existing child rather than create another adorable carbon producing machine. In fact, it is important that the individuals living in countries with large environmental footprints opt not to have children.
One human being, depending on where they live, can produce between 21 (Luxemburg) to 0.7 (Georgia) tons of C02 per year according to Time For Change, with the global average at about 4 tons of C02 per person per year. The Voluntary Extinction Movement describes the decision to stop reproducing as the humanitarian alternative to human disasters.
Average Carbon Footprint
Not all carbon footprints are created equally. In fact there is a wide range of carbon footprints depending upon where you live. Even though the global average is 4 tons of C02 per person per year, the average for industrialized nations is about 11 tons of C02 per person per year, explains Time For Change.
In Canada, the average life expectancy is 80.4 years. At an average of 11 tons of C02 per year, the typical Canadian will create more than 884 tons of C02 in one lifetime. Compared to South Africa, which produces an average of 7.8 tons of C02 per capita according to Time For Change. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the average lifespan of a male in South Africa is 47. A South African male would produce an estimated 366.6 tons of C02 in a lifetime.
The reality remains that on a global scale, Africa or any other developing nation, is consuming far less resources and producing less C02 than any of the wealthy countries.
Overconsumption vs. Overpopulation
From diapers to baths to clothes to cars to airlines trips, the carbon footprint of a North American child is usually as much as two to three times the average carbon footprint of a child in a developing nation. Two children in Africa will consume fewer resources and produce less C02 than just one American child.
And yet many parents, even green parents, in developed countries, continue to produce more C02 making munchkins. The onus for overpopulation is always placed on African or other developing nations and the “too many children argument” is used as a rationale to explain why some developing nations suffer famine or poverty. The “rationale” for lack of resources should shift from overpopulation to nations that overconsume resources and have large carbon outputs. The reality remains that on a global scale, Africa or any other developing nation, is consuming far less resources and producing less C02 than any of the wealthy countries.
Resources
My Footprint: http://www.myfootprint.org/
Time For Change: http://timeforchange.org/
Voluntary Human Extinction: http://www.vhemt.org/
UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org/
WHO: http://www.who.int/en/
Green Pages
The Stork, an award winning film by Nina Paley, is about overpopulation (and yuppie babies) destroying the environment.
Watch it online at: http://blog.ninapaley.com/
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