Clipping Board » Environmental Pollution & Change ─ How dirty the human heart is, how dirty the environment will be...
Update Date: 2009/09/17 18:01
To mitigate global warming, countries worldwide are striving to reduce emissions and encourage people to adopt green lifestyles. However, a recent U.S. study suggests that having children is the most polluting human activity. In other words, rather than changing lifestyles, having one fewer child would make a more significant impact.
A reality show has recently gained popularity in the U.S., not featuring singles in a room but showcasing parents and their large families. While the Chinese say "more children, more blessings," the latest U.S. research indicates that having too many children not only exhausts parents but also the planet.
The study found that if a person fully embraces a green lifestyle—switching to hybrid cars, using energy-efficient light bulbs, adopting energy-saving appliances, and thoroughly recycling—they can reduce carbon emissions by 486 tons in their lifetime. However, having one fewer child can cut emissions by 9,000 tons, 20 times the impact of a green lifestyle. In other words, having children is the most environmentally damaging human activity.
Of course, national conditions vary, and the environmental impact of children differs. For example, Americans, who tend to have more children, live longer, and raise children with relatively high resource consumption, will see each American child exert seven times the environmental impact of a Chinese child. However, issues like carrying on the family line are sensitive, making population a taboo topic in Washington, even excluded from policy discussions.
The argument that having children is environmentally unfriendly is supported by other studies. Many scientists, while advocating for green living, point out that these efforts pale in comparison to simply having fewer children. The greenhouse effect caused by one additional American child is equivalent to burning over a million gallons of gasoline. The choice between population growth and planetary health, national strength and environmental sustainability, is a critical issue that authorities can no longer afford to ignore. (Comprehensive report by FTV News)
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……url/ d/ a/ 090917/ 11/ 1rarf. html
US Study: Fewer Kids Best for Environment
To mitigate global warming, countries worldwide are striving to reduce emissions and encourage people to adopt green lifestyles. However, a recent U.S. study suggests that having children is the most polluting human activity. In other words, rather than changing lifestyles, having one fewer child would make a more significant impact.
A reality show has recently gained popularity in the U.S., not featuring singles in a room but showcasing parents and their large families. While the Chinese say "more children, more blessings," the latest U.S. research indicates that having too many children not only exhausts parents but also the planet.
The study found that if a person fully embraces a green lifestyle—switching to hybrid cars, using energy-efficient light bulbs, adopting energy-saving appliances, and thoroughly recycling—they can reduce carbon emissions by 486 tons in their lifetime. However, having one fewer child can cut emissions by 9,000 tons, 20 times the impact of a green lifestyle. In other words, having children is the most environmentally damaging human activity.
Of course, national conditions vary, and the environmental impact of children differs. For example, Americans, who tend to have more children, live longer, and raise children with relatively high resource consumption, will see each American child exert seven times the environmental impact of a Chinese child. However, issues like carrying on the family line are sensitive, making population a taboo topic in Washington, even excluded from policy discussions.
The argument that having children is environmentally unfriendly is supported by other studies. Many scientists, while advocating for green living, point out that these efforts pale in comparison to simply having fewer children. The greenhouse effect caused by one additional American child is equivalent to burning over a million gallons of gasoline. The choice between population growth and planetary health, national strength and environmental sustainability, is a critical issue that authorities can no longer afford to ignore. (Comprehensive report by FTV News)
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……url/ d/ a/ 090917/ 11/ 1rarf. html