NAVIGATING THE FUTURE: CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE KID QUESTION

As the planet gets hotter, the decision about whether and when to have children gets weighted by climate change. Jade S Sasser, an environmental scientist at the University of California, Riverside, studies the effect of climate anxiety on reproductive choices. Her book Climate Anxiety and the Kid Question (2023) takes that fraught discussion and pushes it to uncomfortable conclusions.

CLIMATE ANXIETY IN THE MODERN WORLD

Sasser’s study does not foretell the future, but it does open up a conversation about how climate change might shape decisions about having children. Sasser discovered that climate anxiety, particularly among women of colour, is associated with wanting to have fewer children than they would otherwise. This points to climate worry across demographic groups and demonstrates how race and socioeconomic status shape intimate decisions about family and reproduction.

THE RACIAL DIMENSIONS OF CLIMATE ANXIETY

The study highlights a notable difference in public discourse and understanding of climate anxiety within communities of colour. These communities are often those suffering from the first and worst impacts of climate change, Sasser says. ‘So, their experiences of anxiety and concern about these issues should not be surprising.’ To Sasser, this recognition is a step towards inclusivity in the discussions and actions around climate change and reproductive decisions.

PERSONAL DECISIONS IN A WARMING WORLD

‘The choice to have children is a personal, moral one, but it’s also a global, public one,’ says Sasser. ‘We should dive more into this notion that if we make decisions at the societal level, it can take a pressure off of individuals – especially individuals who might be marginalised.’ Sasser says that by taking pressure off of people individually, we can make systemic or legislative changes by investing in public transportation or political action to demand climate-forward legislation.

EXAMINING CLIMATE EMOTIONS

This is an important area of research but, despite its relative newness, the empirical base for the study of climate emotions is growing. It shows that climate-related emotions, like climate adaptation and resilience, are unequally distributed among different groups of people – often falling disproportionately on younger generations and marginalised communities alike, making it vital to provide specialised support and resources to help them cope with climate-related distress so they are not left in the shadows of solutions and discussions.

RESILIENCE AND HOPE AMIDST UNCERTAINTY

Sasser’s research found that while climate anxiety is a stark reality, people of colour – who are often the most vulnerable to climate disaster – shared a sense of resilience and optimism. Their collective strength and solidarity could be sourced in deep histories of overcoming existential threats, long histories of community, family and social institutions that can sustain them to navigate this threat together.

FACING THE FUTURE TOGETHER

Sasser’s findings help explain the mixed feelings and contradictions of climate anxiety and modern reproductive choices, and reveal that the answer lies not only in individual lifestyle changes, but in serious collective action against the causes of climate change to make the future welcoming to the next generation.

UNDERSTANDING SENSE IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE ANXIETY

As we confront the existential threats posed by climate change in an era of increasing urgency, panic and responsibility, the ‘sense’ I’m referring to becomes more pressing precisely because of the urgency, anxiety and responsibility that come with the prospect of a climate crisis. This sense encompasses a collective understanding of a shared situation, but it mainly focuses on the feelings involved in coming to a common understanding of the situation, and responding in affective and ethical ways that encompass the fear, anxiety and determination to address climate change both individually and collectively. A shared sense of purpose is our way forward towards a climate future that’s secure and bright.