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Can Condoms Curb Climate Change Cheaper Than Low-Carbon Cars?

 
10,391 views Mar 28, 2011
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What's a Few Hundred Condoms Between Friends? by Flickr user xmasons

What's a Few Hundred Condoms Between Friends? by Flickr user xmasons

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The Frankfurt Auto Show just wound up today, and most of the concept cars focus on lowering carbon dioxide emissions. Volkswagen, for instance, launched a two-seat "1-Liter" concept car that gets a remarkable 170 miles per gallon.

But suppose all the money we're investing in better gas mileage and auto emission controls could be used to cut greenhouse gases more productively? What would we spend it on?


The London School of Economics suggests that condoms and other forms of birth control would be a good first step. A new report, Fewer Emitters, Lower Emissions, Less Cost, suggests that family planning should be seen as a primary method for curbing greenhouse-gas emissions.

Turns out that family planning services are remarkably cost-effective at cutting carbon emissions. Contraception and family planning can cut 1 ton of carbon for $6.70, the report says, against more conventional low-carbon technologies (including more fuel-efficient cars) at up to $31.70 per ton.

It's pretty obvious, really. As Roger Martin from the London School of Economics puts it, with British understatement: "Total emissions depend on the number of emitters as well as their individual emissions."

Or: The fewer people there are, the fewer of them need cars, which lowers total emissions.

United Nations data indicates that 40 percent of global pregnancies are unplanned, and projects that universal access to family planning services could reduce global population growth by 500 million people by 2050.

Not to worry about the planet emptying out, though. That still leaves a projected 8.64 billion humans alive in 2050. If current trends are any indication, they'll all want cars.

Toyota has already sold more than 80,000 Prius hybrids in Japan despite only predicting 100,000 sales for the year

Toyota has already sold more than 80,000 Prius hybrids in Japan despite only predicting 100,000 sales for the year

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[Telegraph; Washington Post; condoms photo by Flickr user xmasons]





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Comments (22)

  1. tel Posted: 9/16/2009 1:32pm PDT

    Can you imagine how much carbon China would produce if they did not have population control?
     
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  2. fb_100000004307729 avatar Al Bunzel Posted: 8/10/2012 4:17am PDT

    What is the carbon footprint in producing condoms and chemical contraceptives? Has anyone done a study on it?

    What happens to the condoms once they have been used? Do they get recycled or are they bio degradable or do they fill up the land fill or block the sewage pipes?
     
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  3. Anton Posted: 9/16/2009 1:38pm PDT

    ZPG, baby...not MPG!
     
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  4. greedo Posted: 9/16/2009 1:40pm PDT

    there are definitely a lot of avenues to explore when talking about reducing atmospheric emissions. Cars are really a drop in the bucket compared to "clean" industry. But those industries pay pennies on the dollar to the auto industry's penalties for emissions.
     
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  5. AutoBoy Posted: 9/16/2009 1:43pm PDT

    funny way of looking at this. seems pretty straightforward that cutting the number "emitters" altogether would lower overall emissions more than simply cutting back on what they emit.
     
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  6. BadMath Posted: 9/16/2009 1:52pm PDT

    Assuming every country on earth voluntarily starts to curb its own popular growth via contraception ads and education, this could make a small dent in global warming. Unfortunately, the majority of people in developing nations still think of kids as walking retirement funds, so no go on that. China has been controlling population growth for decades, the problem there is their existing population is becoming wealthier and can now afford cars.
    On a side note: go electric cars! down with fake hybrids (serial hybrids are a scam)
     
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  7. Jay Wilder Posted: 9/16/2009 2:06pm PDT

    Oh wow, that looks like a heap of fun doesnt it??
    Jess
    www.web-privacy.de.tc
     
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  8. Series Emitter Posted: 9/16/2009 2:08pm PDT

    hey AutoBoy, isn't cutting emissions what condoms are all ABOUT?
    hey BadMath, I'd have more respect for whatever you're tryin to say if you got the technical term right. It's SERIES hybrid, doofus, not "serial". That's what you eat in the morning.
     
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  9. Russell Posted: 9/16/2009 2:11pm PDT

    Even cheaper than handing out condoms, would be to get rid of charirty/aid to the poor nations.
    Less food = less people.
    No aid = -ve cost.
    An accountants dream.
     
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  10. BadMath Posted: 9/16/2009 2:22pm PDT

    I eat cereals in the morning. I think the serials you've been eating are making you cranky...
     
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  11. Nancy Posted: 9/16/2009 2:23pm PDT

    1 child in North America equals 30 in India, based on use of resources. The problem is here, where birth control is entirely available.
     
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  12. Damien Thomas Posted: 9/16/2009 5:25pm PDT

    I think everyone could stand to adopt a child - would solve a lot of problems.
     
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  13. Gee Halen Posted: 9/16/2009 11:38pm PDT

    That is the biggest bulls..t I've ever read in years. It's almost like "genocide makes the Earth greener". What an idiotic thought! I agree with Nancy in post #10.
     
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  14. Gee Halen Posted: 9/16/2009 11:44pm PDT

    ...or to be more precise: It is a highly HIPPOCRATIC thought.
     
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  15. Gilad Posted: 9/17/2009 1:50am PDT

    Russell: you are SO wrong - contra-logically, the richest nations have the lowest birth rates.
    Here are some reasons I could think of:
    1) When you can't be sure your children will survive to maturity, you make more children to have better chances of your genes living on
    2) In poor countries children are part of the workforce and help the family to make a living
    3) When you have to fight for day-to-day survival planning your future seems less important
     
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  16. Son of Man Posted: 9/17/2009 1:55am PDT

    I think Nancy's comment (#10) is very true and to the point.
    North America's strain on world resources is disproportional to it's size and population.
     
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  17. admin Posted: 9/17/2009 9:23am PDT

    Condoms are overrated.
    lol
    electronic cigarette
     
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  18. Robert Posted: 9/18/2009 9:46am PDT

    That's a good point, but not very feasible. It's like saying a massive plague that killed half the world's population is good for carbon emissions--yes, obviously it is, but is that really worth it? Let's continue with low-carbon cars.
     
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  19. no one you care for Posted: 9/18/2009 1:31pm PDT

    Yes, Gee. In a sense, it IS a "Hippocratic" thought.
    Except that you more likely meant "hypocritical," since you obviously disagree with it.
    The funny thing is that if every last one of us actually WERE dead, the Earth would more easily be able to recuperate from what's been done to it in the history of human progress.
     
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  20. Gee Halen Posted: 9/19/2009 11:46pm PDT

    @no one you care for: oh yes, right. :(
     
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  21. Gee Halen Posted: 9/19/2009 11:50pm PDT

    oh yes, right. Sorry! :(
     
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  22. smaria82 Posted: 9/24/2009 11:45pm PDT

    Since when did human life become a commodity comparable to cars? Human life is precious, and the next generation won't even be here to enjoy the planet we save if we devalue children and family.
     
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