Being child-free is not selfish

Editor’s note: If you would like to submit a letter for possible publication, please email it to editor@rationalist.com.au. See our Publishing Guideline   Dear Editor, Choosing not to have children is not selfish — it may be responsible. Choosing not to have children is often framed as selfish or socially disengaged. Yet, in a world confronting climate breakdown, biodiversity loss and resource depletion, remaining childfree can be an ethical and environmentally responsible choice. Child-rearing in Australia is supported by an expanding web of subsidies, from paid parental leave and childcare assistance to education funding and tax concessions. While these policies aim to support families, they also reinforce the idea that reproduction is the default life path.  Childless people contribute financially and often absorb additional workplace burdens, yet their choice is rarely afforded the same social legitimacy. Political concern over falling birth rates has intensified in recent years. The argument usually centres on economic sustainability: fewer children today mean fewer workers tomorrow. But this logic risks entrenching a cycle of perpetual growth on a finite planet.  Housing shortages, urban congestion and environmental stress are already straining communities. Climate discourse frequently urges action for the sake of future generations. While understandable, this framing assumes that having descendants is inevitable. Nature is indifferent to human continuity.  Reducin...