What in the World

How much does having a baby contribute to climate change?


Listen Later

There are a growing number of people speaking out about their decision not to have children because of climate change. They worry about the environmental impact of bringing a new person into the world. But how polluting is it to have kids? And is staying childfree a good way to limit how much carbon dioxide we put into the atmosphere?

The BBC’s Georgina Rannard talks us through some research from University College London. And researcher Johannes Ackva, from the Founder’s Pledge, brings us a study he co-wrote looking at how different lifestyle choices - including flying, driving a car and having children - impact the climate. He thinks that, as governments’ net-zero pledges really start to ramp up, emissions per person will likely go down - and this could impact how polluting it is to have babies in the future.

Plus, we hear from three people who’ve decided not to have kids: Nirupama Kondayya, and husband Vipin Nair from India now living in the UK, and a woman from the US.

Email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Maria Clara Montoya and Mora Morrison
Editors: Emily Horler and Simon Peeks

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

What in the WorldBy BBC World Service

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

16 ratings


More shows like What in the World

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,583 Listeners

Business Daily by BBC World Service

Business Daily

522 Listeners

World Business Report by BBC World Service

World Business Report

296 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,801 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,747 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,042 Listeners

Learning English Vocabulary by BBC Radio

Learning English Vocabulary

509 Listeners

Learning English Stories by BBC Radio

Learning English Stories

379 Listeners

Learning English Grammar by BBC Radio

Learning English Grammar

314 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

973 Listeners

CrowdScience by BBC World Service

CrowdScience

476 Listeners

Learning English from the News by BBC Radio

Learning English from the News

250 Listeners

The Global Story by BBC World Service

The Global Story

331 Listeners

Learning English For Work by BBC News

Learning English For Work

46 Listeners

The Explanation by BBC World Service

The Explanation

25 Listeners