Full Story The anxiety of having kids in a climate crisis
Jan 12, 2026
Join Donna Lu, climate expert and assistant editor at Guardian Australia, as she shares her personal struggles with the idea of motherhood amidst a climate crisis. Donna reveals that over 40% of women in Australia share this hesitation. She discusses the unique pressures women face and how personal choices intersect with the responsibilities of major polluters. The conversation also touches on political divides in parental concerns and how societal identities shape beliefs about climate change. A heartfelt exploration of hope and anxiety in uncertain times.
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Personal Climate Anxiety Around Parenthood
- Donna Lu describes balancing reporting on climate with becoming a parent and the anxiety it caused her before having a child two years ago.
- She highlights how climate uncertainty joined financial and lifestyle concerns in shaping her reproductive decision.
Gendered Hesitancy About Having Children
- A national survey found 40.4% of women without children are hesitant to have kids because of climate change, compared with 17% of men.
- The gap suggests climate-related reproductive decisions fall disproportionately on women.
Gendered Calculus And Systemic Responsibility
- Professor Clive Hamilton frames the difference as a 'gendered calculus of risk' where women shoulder responsibility for future generations.
- Donna Lu stresses personal responsibility shouldn't let big polluters evade scrutiny.