As climate change intensifies, some people are reconsidering whether to have children, while parents are thinking differently about the world their kids will inherit. From extreme weather to climate anxiety, worries about a warming planet are becoming part of family-planning conversations.
For some young adults, deciding whether to have children now involves weighing the desire to become a parent against uncertainty about the future. A recent Straight Arrow report describes how climate concerns are prompting people to rethink parenthood and inspiring some parents to become involved in environmental activism.
A 2024 study cited in the report surveyed 16,000 Americans ages 16 to 25. It found that 58% were extremely worried about climate change, while 52% said they were hesitant to have children.
Psychologist Susan Clayton explained that young people anticipate living with the consequences of climate change for longer, saying, “their sense of the future looks a lot different.” For some, these concerns add to existing worries about housing, employment and financial stability.
What NASA Says About the Effects of Global Warming
Climate change is already affecting the planet, not just threatening future generations. According to NASA’s climate-change overview, glaciers and ice sheets are shrinking, sea levels are rising, and heat waves are becoming longer and more intense.
NASA reports that human activity had warmed Earth by approximately 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit) compared with the 1850–1900 average, based on the IPCC’s 2021 assessment. Future impacts could include more frequent wildfires, longer droughts in some regions and stronger rainfall from tropical cyclones.
NASA emphasizes that the severity of future effects depends partly on choices made now. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions can limit some of the most damaging outcomes, even though some climate impacts will persist for centuries.
Understanding Climate Anxiety in Parents
Climate anxiety describes distress related to climate change and uncertainty about the future. Parents may feel particular pressure because they are not only processing their own fears but also wondering what kind of world their children will grow up in.
An Associated Press report describes how climate concerns can influence reproductive decisions, with some young adults questioning whether having children is responsible in an increasingly unstable environment. Experts also note that conversations about family planning and climate can be emotionally difficult and deeply personal.
Parents do not have to ignore these fears or manage them alone. Talking with trusted people, finding supportive communities and taking meaningful local environmental action can help turn helplessness into a sense of connection and agency.
