Climate change quells motherhood plans

A new survey of Australian environmentalists has found one third of those under 30 are reconsidering motherhood over concerns about climate change.

A pregnant woman

Climate issues are prompting women to reconsider having children, a survey has found. (AAP)

Young environmentalists are so concerned about climate change, some are reconsidering motherhood.

A survey of 6500 female members of environment groups 1 Million Women and the Australian Conservation Foundation found a third of them aged under 30 are uncertain about having children.

Older members, however, are more keen on starting a family, with only 20 per cent of those between 30 and 39 reconsidering children because of climate change.

Wollongong woman Felicity Lochhead has found herself increasingly concerned about how safe it would be to bring a child into the world.

"At the moment our response is very uncertain because we do consider climate change as a factor influencing that decision," she says of her and her husband.

"Not knowing what action is going to be taken now and into the future, what potential outcomes there are from it, and what potential futures there are for our children if we were to have a family.

"The more education I'm getting around climate change, it's adding to that concern."

The 28-year-old says the survey results, released on Monday, were "pretty alarming", as she didn't realise others were beginning to feel the same way.


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Source: AAP


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