Climate Fears Are Driving Us Away From Child Bearing

A world wide 20 21 study of 16 to 25 year olds reports that four out of five young people are fearful of the future of the climate, with 59 % very or extremely worried. More significantly, in the long run, climate fears are one reason that are having fewer children at a time when most wealthy countries report a below replacement fertility rate. Whatever the reasons or circumstances for childlessness at an individual level, the society wide retreat from child bearing runs counter to the most basic biological imperative to bring the next gen ration into existence. Failing to do so seems to bespeak a despair about the future, for which plenty of reasons can be found beyond the climate. One way or the other,