In this episode of The Good System, I tackle a surprisingly heated question: should you feel guilty about having kids in the climate crisis? Spoiler alert — it’s not your toddler’s fault the planet’s on fire.
I unpack the real reasons emissions keep rising (hint: it’s not diapers or birthday parties), and take a hard look at how blaming personal choices — like having children — lets the system off the hook. From billionaire emissions to baked-in fossil fuel infrastructure, we follow the trail of CO₂ and ask: who’s really driving the climate bus?
Highlights include:
- The myth of the carbon-guzzling baby
- Why personal guilt is a distraction from systemic responsibility
- What actually changes emissions (it’s not family size)
- A gentle roast of lifestyle purity culture
- Some unexpected hope — seriously
Whether you're a parent, future parent, or happily childfree, this episode reframes the conversation and invites you to stop blaming yourself — and start questioning the system.
This episode is based on this blog article: https://iandebay.com/thoughts/kids-are-not-sustainable/
Mentioned episodes
Is Overpopulation Really the Problem? Rethinking Climate Blame
City vs Country: What is more sustainable
For more information about the podcast and me: iandebay.com
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