Our world’s population is currently estimated at 6.8 billion. Over the course of a year, about 80 million people are added to our planet, that’s about 150 people every minute. This growth has environmentalists concerned that we are undermining our efforts to save the planet.
Some natural scientists say that overpopulation is the root of most of our environmental problems, while activists are adamant that taking measures to influence population growth infringes on human rights. Others claim that human life is vital to the Earth and that it doesn’t matter how many children a person has if they are taught to become environmentally responsible.
The carbon footprint of children in developing countries is quite massive and American children use up far more resources than children around the world. According to Mother Jones, the carbon footprint of babies in developed countries is staggering:
· A typical baby goes through 3,800 disposable diapers in the first 2.5 years.
· 96 percent of American babies wear disposable diapers. In China, only 6 percent do. In India, 2 percent.
· China claims its one-child policy has prevented 400 million births—saving 1.5 billion tons of CO2 in 2004 alone.
· One American child generates as much CO2 as 106 Haitian kids.
· Zahara Jolie-Pitt will produce 45,000 lbs of CO2 yearly, compared with 221 lbs if she still lived in Ethiopia.
On the flip side, there are those who say that many countries are experiencing growth due to immigration, not the creation of new life, and that if couples subscribe to the thinking that more children will doom the environment, we are on our way to extinction.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear; overpopulation does have a huge impact on all life on Earth, but what it boils down to is the amount of carbon left behind by individuals and families, whether we have more children or not.
Source: BecauseAction.com
