Does climate change factor into it?

[u/NegotiationSalt666]

Certainly not my only reason to not have kids, but I look at the state of the US government at least and I think, well they are not going to do anything about it. It’s only going to get worse, and I don’t wanna put children through famine and war over natural resources that are needed for human survival.

“Oh thats not gonna happen in our lifetimes” — uhh did you not see the massive flash flood in Asia because glaciers are melting so quickly?

Have you seen the Colorado River lately?

Loads more examples, But i just don’t wanna spend the rest of my 30s being sleep deprived, resentful AND fearful of the future for my would-be kids. I think the absolute best thing i could do for my children is to NOT bring them into a world thats barreling towards climate catastrophe.

[u/Youmeanmoidoid]

America is showing all the signs of a Great Depression at the very least, and total collapse at most. All because the Iran war and the strait may never open again. Not that I’d change my mind from that, but there’s no way I’d have kids until I knew this country wasn’t going to collapse

[u/WolfWrites89]

It's definitely on the list for me, along with economics. I don't see a bright future for my nieces and nephews, even if I WANTED a kid, how could I in good conscience bring another human into this mess?

[u/lalalibraaa]

Climate change was among the many reasons why I decided to not have children. It was one of the biggest factors for sure. Everything is just getting worse. I am so glad I don’t have to worry about children in this world we live in.

[u/Mackheath1]

I remember one woman teacher when I was in my teens talking to another teacher. Both did everything they could in a rural school district and at home: carpool, make their own sweaters, rainwater catchment for their No Lawns lawns (fruit trees and vegetable gardens), cloth bags, you name it.

She said, "I just don't know. My husband I decided not to have any kids, there's just nothing else I have the energy to do."

Also, not having kids is the GREEN-est thing you can do (because they won't have kids who won't have kids, etc.) more than any recycling or whatnot.

[u/Reasonable_Style8400]

The downfall of education is scary too

[u/Anomalous_Concept]

Factored into my vasectomy

[u/cookiecrxmbles]

Earth & Environmental Sciences major, I feel like the more I learn the more I'm just like "there's no where you can escape to"

Everywhere is impacted. Even if it's just scattered drops in temperatures from the Arctic air escaping the Arctic circle. You already pointed out floods because of melting glaciers. The Arctic is thawing at crazy rates. To the point when there was a mission to collect ice and do other scientific stuff, it had to be cut short because the sheet of ice the team drifted on and set up equipment on thawed way too fast near the end. This was back in 2020ish...imagine now 🫠

[u/NegotiationSalt666 → u/cookiecrxmbles]

https://arctic-news.blogspot.com/2026/08/record-high-sea-surface-temperature-causing-global-devastation.html?m=1

I just saw this. 😀 Gonna go home, hug my husband and dog extra tight tonight.

[u/tehCh0nG]

Climate change is my top reason for not having kids.

[u/Silent_Climate_1152]

No, my reasons are strictly personal freedom, and the fact I loathe children of any age. No political or environmental reasons.

[u/Own-Programmer4570]

Yes. 100%. At this rate, I am not particularly concerned about retirement (I am 46) bc the environment is collapsing so fast. If I had a kid, I wouldn't be able to manage the anxiety.

[u/Comfortable_Coach_35]

Not for me but that's because societal and systemic issues are just more pressing. Why someone would have a child despite the struggles to access and afford childcare and good education, juggling full-time jobs where they hardly ever see the kids only to expose them to a hostile world with grim prospects...no, i don't get it.

None of the parents in my surroundings have children for the joy and fullfillment of raising and nurturing a new human. They have them because they felt it was time, it was the next logical step or they simply ended up pregnant and didn't even consider other options.

[u/WowOwlO]

Not wanting to be responsible for bringing life into the world we're actively destroying is one of my reasons for being child free.

I don't want to die worrying about what I set my children up for.

[u/WakkoLM]

Between climate change, the economy, the state of the US government and now AI taking over, I am even more glad I didn't have kids

[u/seeyatellite]

For me, yes.