Is having more than two children selfish?*
The future of the planet rarely plays a part when planning a family, but that’s got to change, say environmental campaigners.
Parents who have more than two children are “irresponsible” for placing an intolerable burden on resources and increasing damage to eco-systems, says a leading green campaigner. (*Note how this report makes no mention of smaller family size compliance to the UK’s exploding Muslim / African population. — Ed.)
Curbing population growth through contraception must play a role in fighting global warming, argues Jonathon Porritt.
This week, the Optimum Population Trust (OPT), of which Mr Porrit is a patron, launched its “Stop at Two” online pledge to encourage couples to limit their family’s size.
If you polled mums and asked them for 10 reasons why they would not want more children the list would include money, sleepless nights and the strain on relationships
Siobhan Freegard, Netmums website
The UK population alone is expected to increase from 61 million to 77 million by 2051 but the OPT believes the UK’s long-term sustainable population level may be lower than 30 million.
“The more couples decide to have just one or two children, or even remain childless, the more they can relieve pressures on rapidly deteriorating ecosystems and alleviate demand for dwindling energy and food resources,” says policy director Rosamund McDougall.
If women in the UK stopped at two children, this would cut the UK’s forecast population by an estimated seven million by 2050, the OPT suggests.