Man who glues himself to road says having children feels criminal

An eco-warrior has chosen not to have kids to save the planet - and says having children "feels criminal" in the current climate. Richard Beresford, 40, attempts to live the ultimate green life by forgoing flights, trying to be zero waste and refusing to have children.

The recruitment consultant only got a car for work in his 30s, grows his own veg, and glues himself to roads as part of climate protests. Despite loving kids, he has chosen not to have them as he doesn't want to bring them into a world which will "become uninhabitable for most of us".

Richard, from Bristol, describes himself as a social justice warrior and says: “I’ve deliberately chosen not to have children. I don't think it’s a good idea to have them while our planet is dying, it would feel criminal.

"It was a decision I made in my very early twenties when I moved in with my first serious partner, up until that point I had a notion that I would likely want to have children in the future, like most people. It's sad because I love people and want them to survive on the planet.

“Not having kids, not flying and being stringent about driving have been big barriers to my relationships. In the past I've had relationships fail in part because I believe I shouldn't have kids. But I don’t think I could look a baby boy or girl in the face if they were to ask me why didn’t I do something to stop it.”

Richard would have loved to have kids were it not for the environment. He said: “I would have loved to have started a family by now. I love kids and have worked with them a lot and am probably driven by a biological desire to want kids like most people.

“Sometimes I look at other people who have kids and I do have envy but morally speaking I think I’ve made the right decision.”

Since the age of 18, Richard has only taken two flights and instead of flying he will take a ferry or go on a staycation in the UK using public transport. He began donating to Greenpeace when he was 20. "From that point on I've been pretty staunch and began taking more direct action in my mid 20s," he said.

The self-described environmental justice activist said: “I think if you need to go on a holiday then there’s probably something in your life you want to change. I’ve never really felt the need to fly to America for example.”

Richard’s holiday policy has caused friction in relationships, especially when ex-partners have wanted to go on a beach getaway or romantic city break. He said: “I’ve had many arguments about why I don’t want to travel thousands of miles to go sit on a beach.

“And the no kids thing has been a big point of controversy in at least two of my previous relationships.”

Richard is a committed environmental activist in his free time. He said: “I’m very passionate about it, but I’m also very sad about the situation.

“I’m extremely worried. I think our environment will collapse before the capitalist system, which is the route of the problem. As a younger person I was less cynical and more idealistic. I was not as convinced that the capitalist system was the cause of the problem, but now we need drastic action.

“I do glue myself to the occasional road.”

Richard still believes we should all alter our lifestyles to save the planet, but admits even he is not immune to the temptations of modern life. He said: “I’m not vegan, I’m more of a failed vegetarian or flexitarian – I don’t like to put a name on it.

“I do my best to reduce meat consumption, though sometimes I walk past a Greggs and can’t resist."

Richard says despite having “grieved” for the loss of the future, including his own alternative future where would have had kids, there is still hope. “I grieved and have cried for the loss of our future.

“But joining Extinction rebellion really helped me, it made me realise doing something is better than doing nothing. As Chris Hedges wrote, 'you don't fight fascists because you know you will win; you fight fascists, because they are fascists.'"