Geography

A special section for correspondence and controversy - The environmental consequences of having a baby in the United States

Document Type

Article

Abstract

This paper gives crude estimates of the environmental consequences associated with the birth of one baby in the United States. We calculate the magnitude of one hundred environmental impacts which one American born today will cause over a lifetime. The impacts are grouped under five headings: waste generation, mineral consumption, energy consumption, ecosystem alteration, and food consumption. We also consider, but do not quantify, impacts on extinctions of species and indigenous cultures. Our purpose is to emphasize the role of population growth in the creation of environmental problems, and to make potential parents aware of their ability to impact the global environment. We conclude that one especially effective way for individuals to protect the national and global environment, and hence protect the wellbeing of all existing people, is to stop creating more humans. © 1994 Human Sciences Press, Inc.

Publication Title

Population and Environment

Publication Date

7-1-1994

Volume

15

Issue

6

First Page

505

Last Page

524

ISSN

0199-0039

DOI

10.1007/BF02211721

Keywords

energy consumption, environmental impact, population growth, environmental consequence, environmental problem

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