Kamala Harris Discusses “Climate Anxiety” Among Young Americans
Former Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris recently stated that young Americans are hesitant to have children, attributing this to what she calls “climate anxiety.” She made these comments while speaking at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Gala on October 14 at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
“They are experiencing what has been coined ‘climate anxiety,’ which is the fear that the future of their livelihoods is at great risk due to extreme weather changes,” Harris noted. She recalled a recent conversation with her goddaughter, a college senior, who expressed concern about the future: “What is the world going to be like for me, Auntie? I want to have kids. Should I even think about having kids?” Harris remembered her goddaughter saying this while visibly upset.
These remarks echo similar statements Harris made in 2020 at Reading Area Community College, where she reflected on how youth were coining this term “climate anxiety.” She highlighted that young leaders believe they can’t rely on others to tackle the climate crisis.
Harris elaborated further, explaining that this anxiety stems from uncertainties about the future, such as whether it’s reasonable to consider having children or buying a home given potential climate changes.
In August, her stepdaughter shared her own feelings of distress about the current state of the world on TikTok, mentioning her own “huge anxiety about the climate,” jokingly noting that while the issue seems absurd, it’s genuinely not funny.
Surveys in recent years have shown a significant number of young people are deeply concerned about climate issues. A 2023 Pew Research poll indicated that 55 percent of Democrats perceive fewer children as beneficial for the environment, aligning with the belief held by 78 percent of Democrats that climate change represents a major threat.
Interestingly, Pew Research Center data from 2025 revealed that despite a low U.S. birth rate, younger adults in their 20s and 30s are considering having more children compared to previous generations.
However, the phenomenon of “climate anxiety,” particularly among left-leaning youth, doesn’t tell the whole story, as these individuals are often delaying parenthood and preferring smaller families. Gallup reported in September that while the average ideal family size is 2.7 children, the U.S. birth rate stands at a historic low of 1.6 births per woman. Yet, the preference for larger families (three or more children) rose to 45 percent in 2023, the highest percentage since 1971.
Gallup noted that this surge coincided with a decline in the birth rate that started in the late 1960s and has since stabilized above current rates. Challenges such as rising costs of housing, child care, health care, and higher education, alongside delays in marriage and parenthood, play a significant role in hindering fertility rates.
Different demographics exhibit varying attitudes toward family size. Generally, men, regular churchgoers, Republicans, people of color, and men under 50 tend to favor having three or more children, while younger adults, Democrats, white individuals, and women under 50 show a preference for one or two children.
