Having children in a climate-conscious world

Jade Sasser’s latest book explores the racial dimensions of climate anxiety and its impact on reproductive decisions.

Victoria St. Martin reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

• Jade Sasser’s new book, “Climate Anxiety and the Kid Question,” investigates how climate anxiety influences reproductive choices, especially among women of color.
• Survey results indicate that women of color are more likely to have fewer children due to climate concerns compared to other groups.
• The book emphasizes the need to include marginalized communities in climate anxiety research to understand their unique experiences.

Key quote:

“Climate anxiety is a normal, natural response to climate change. Let’s fight and solve climate change, and then you won’t have the thing to be anxious about.”

— Jade Sasser, environmental scientist

Why this matters:

Understanding how climate anxiety affects mental health and reproductive decisions, especially in marginalized communities is important for crafting inclusive climate policies that consider the diverse experiences of all communities. Read more: Feeling anxious about climate change? Experts say you're not alone.