# Will having children solve climate change? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 27, 2019, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598 "2019-03-27T10:33:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/121 "2019-03-29T18:08:57Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Sure, but then he went on to say that “human flourishing” was the solution to climate change. “Earth can’t kill all of us” Or something. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/122 "2019-03-29T18:16:46Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > He wasn’t arguing that “doing something about it is stupid”. He argued that doing this specific thing (the GND) is stupid. That was the overall point of his speech. The point of the senator was still stupid. The plan is overreaching, and dealing with issues that are barely related to the main issue, but the main issue about dealing with climate change more aggressively, as we haven’t been doing so far, is not stupid at all. > **[The Good News About a Green New Deal](https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/the-good-news-about-a-green-new-deal)** > > Achieving anything close to zero emissions by mid-century would be a historic transformation for the U.S. economy. But rapidly advancing technology and the falling costs of clean energy make this goal eminently achievable. > [@](#): > > Despite these reservations, Koomey and Pollin, as well as a number of other researchers I spoke with, said the drafters of the Green New Deal were perfectly right to urge large-scale action across many parts of the economy, and they emphasized the technological opportunities that now exist to meet many of the environmental goals that underpin the proposed legislation, if not the exact timetable it lays down. In a report released in October, which the Democratic resolution cites and endorses, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said that if the world is to contain the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius, carbon emissions must be reduced by about fifty per cent before 2030, and completely phased out before 2050. For a U.S. economy that currently relies on fossil fuels for about four-fifths of its energy, achieving zero emissions, or something close to it, by the middle of the century would be a historic transformation. And, according to all the researchers I spoke with, rapidly advancing technology and the falling costs of clean energy make this more achievable than ever. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/123 "2019-03-29T18:16:50Z")
I’m not sure which is more implausible: 1. A Republican promising that he will listen to scientists in another 30 or 40 years; or 2. A Republican promising that it’s only going to be the tip, and just for a second. Somehow Mike Lee has managed to converge this into some kind of meta lie. Bravo! ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/124 "2019-03-29T18:31:16Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I’m not sure which is more implausible: > > 1. A Republican promising that he will listen to scientists in another 30 or 40 years; To be _entirely_ fair to the corrupt dishonest moron, I believe the premise is that somebody’s kid is going to invent a magic problem-solving gun which he will point at the problem and solve it, with his magic gun. The assumption isn’t that the republicans will ever have to listen to science (horrors!), it’s that a solution will manifest that doesn’t involve them having to listen to science (or use less resources, or stop polluting); it will instead be something that will just magically work without relying on science, like televisions and computers and such. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/125 "2019-03-29T18:42:47Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > To be _entirely_ fair to the corrupt dishonest moron, I believe the premise is that somebody’s kid is going to invent a magic problem-solving gun which he will point at the problem and solve it, with his magic gun. The assumption isn’t that the republicans will ever have to listen to science (horrors!), it’s that a solution will manifest that doesn’t involve them having to listen to science (or use less resources, or stop polluting); it will instead be something that will just magically work without relying on science, like televisions and computers and such. The really sad thing about it is that a lot of those “magical” solutions (that ignore also who will pay for for their deployment) involve listening to the very same scientists that those politicians are willfully ignoring right now. I have noticed that particularly when geo engineering solutions are proposed, as climate experts will have to be consulted to investigate if they will work properly. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/126 "2019-03-29T19:02:56Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > He wasn’t arguing that “doing something about it is stupid”. He argued that doing this specific thing (the GND) is stupid. That was the overall point of his speech. Actually, he argued that the idiotic strawman he’d stamped with a “GND” post-it note was stupid. Which it was, but that has nothing to do with the \*actual \*GND. The GND doesn’t propose banning air travel, or anything whatsoever for that matter. I would also add that if your rebuttal to \*any \*proposed solution to \*any \*problem whatsoever is a mere “nuh-uh” or “it won’t work” without providing any alternate solution, you’re not helping and are, at best, an annoyance. Even “you missed a spot !” is more helpful than “your idea is dumb and you’re dumb (PS get fucking)”. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/127 "2019-03-29T19:04:09Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > “Earth can’t kill all of us” Or something. “Is that a fucking dare ?” - Earth, probably ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/128 "2019-03-30T02:25:15Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Brace yourself for some disappointment. I like Senator Lee. I’d even say I’m delighted that he’s my Senator. I am very likely to continue to vote for him, contribute to his re-election campaigns, and volunteer my time. I am hardly disappointed. I am not even surprised. Given the clear lack of logic in his quoted opinion, your support for him appears to be consistent with your expressed views, here. ---
**Author:** ![NiceGuyJack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/niceguyjack/32/3069_2.png) [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/129 "2019-04-03T07:28:43Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I’m pretty confident I’m in a better position to determine that than you are. You’re right. I have no idea about your views on politics. If you have no problem with your senator being bought and do the bidding for those who buy him, then I stand corrected. I’m including below a [summary of Senator Mike Lee’s voting record](http://politicsthatwork.com/voting-record/Mike-Lee-412495). I’m sure no one would agree on all positions of any elected representative, but if you are in agreement on most of these positions. I can only deduce you are a very wealthy, white evangelical person, owner, or more likely, a major share holder, of a large labor intensive business that happens to produce a good deal of toxic waste. Or you are a life long conservative Republican who have not yet realized how corrupt the Republican party (and the Democratic party for that matter) has become. **Opposes** Taxing businesses Taxing the middle class Taxing the wealthy Restricting money in politics Disaster relief Funding education Environmental protection Regulation of the financial sector Gun control regulations Public health Foreign and humanitarian aid Humane immigration policy Unions, labor rights and minimum wages LGBT rights Internet neutrality Poverty amelioration Racial equality Higher government spending **Supports** Big business Military spending. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/130 "2019-04-03T12:26:03Z")
> [@NiceGuyJack](#): > > **Opposes** > Taxing businesses > Taxing the middle class > Taxing the wealthy > Restricting money in politics > Disaster relief > Funding education > Environmental protection > Regulation of the financial sector > Gun control regulations > Public health > Foreign and humanitarian aid > Humane immigration policy > Unions, labor rights and minimum wages > LGBT rights > Internet neutrality > Poverty amelioration > Racial equality > Higher government spending > > **Supports** > Big business > Military spending. How can anyone look at that list and then with a straight face say “Yep! He’s my guy!” ? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/131 "2019-04-03T12:52:14Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > How can anyone look at that list and then with a straight face say “Yep! He’s my guy!” ? Running against whom? ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/132 "2019-04-03T13:02:56Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Running against whom? Presumably Cthulu. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/133 "2019-04-03T13:12:46Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Presumably Cthulu. Well, then, yeah, probably. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/134 "2019-04-03T13:21:40Z")
What if Cthulu is offering Medicare for all? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/135 "2019-04-03T13:32:43Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > What if Cthulu is offering Medicare for all? What, are we going to do the entire Frogurt Is Also Cursed routine? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/136 "2019-04-03T13:54:41Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > What, are we going to do the entire Frogurt Is Also Cursed routine? Nah, it was a one off. Plus I don’t know what “Frogurt Is Also Cursed” means. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/137 "2019-04-03T14:00:03Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > How can anyone look at that list and then with a straight face say “Yep! He’s my guy!” ? Yeah, it’s not difficult. I want lower taxes and a generally-less-meddlesome federal government. So does Senator Lee. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/138 "2019-04-03T14:01:56Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Nah, it was a one off. Plus I don’t know what “Frogurt Is Also Cursed” means. It’s a bit in THE SIMPSONS. > [@](#): > > Owner: Take this object, but beware it carries a terrible curse… > Homer: [worried] Ooooh, that’s bad. > Owner: But it comes with a free Frogurt! > Homer: [relieved] That’s good. > Owner: The Frogurt is also cursed. > Homer: [worried] That’s bad. > Owner: But you get your choice of topping! > Homer: [relieved] That’s good. > Owner: The toppings contains Potassium Benzoate. > [Homer stares, confused] > Owner: That’s bad. > Homer: [worried] Can I go now? Anyhow, I never meant to hijack this; the ‘Cthulu’ bit wasn’t mine; I honestly wanted to point out that I back a candidate by considering the alternative — and, yes, one can of course keep tweaking the alternative to get me to reconsider and reconsider. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/139 "2019-04-03T14:03:58Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Yeah, it’s not difficult. I want lower taxes and a generally-less-meddlesome federal government. So does Senator Lee. It must be nice to not think much about politics. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598/140 "2019-04-03T14:04:56Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Yeah, it’s not difficult. I want lower taxes and a generally-less-meddlesome federal government. So does Senator Lee. Sure. I’m wondering how far your “I want lower taxes” goes. Say Senator Lee came to you and said “HurricanDitka, you won’t have to pay ANY taxes next year, but we are completely disabling the SNAP program” Would you be cool with that? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-having-children-solve-climate-change/831598.md?page=8)