Climate scientist Kimberly Nicholas co-led a study that showed the single most effective thing an individual can do to decrease their carbon footprint is have fewer kids. Despite that finding, she still says that people who really want to have kids should go ahead with their plans. She explains how she squares that circle to Vox’s Sigal Samuel, and the two discuss how to think about the decision to have kids or not and how to make meaning in a warming world.  

Read more of Sigal’s climate reporting:

• Having fewer kids will not save the planet


• Where to donate to improve climate policy


• 
  It’s not just Big Oil. It’s Big Meat too. 

More information about Dr. Kimberly Nicholas

• Find her new book here 


• Read more of her writing on her website
  


• The podcast she recommended called So Over Population
  

Host:

Sigal Samuel (@SigalSamuel), staff writer, Vox 

Producer: 

Sofi LaLonde (@sofilalonde)

More to explore:

Subscribe to Vox’s Future Perfect newsletter, which breaks down big, complicated problems the world faces and the most efficient ways to solve them.

We always want to hear from you! Please send comments and questions to futureperfect@vox.com. 

Subscribe to Future Perfect on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app to automatically get new episodes of the latest season each week.

Follow Us:

Vox.com

Support Future Perfect by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices