Youngsters fear climate crisis – and having kids

FOUR in ten young people fear having children in the future because of climate change.

A global survey of 10,000 people aged 16 to 25 found more than three quarters (77 per cent) thought the future was frightening. And nearly six in ten said they were ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ worried about climate change.

More than half said they had felt afraid, sad, anxious, powerless, helpless and/or guilty, and 45 per cent said their concerns negatively affected their daily life.

Less than a third think governments are doing enough to avoid catastrophe and – in the UK alone – 38 per cent are fearful of having children.

The University of Bath’s Dr Liz Marks, a co-leader of the study, described the findings as ‘shocking’.

‘Now is the time to face the truth, listen to young people, and take urgent action against climate change,’ she added.

The study is under peer review for publication in the Lancet Planetary Health.