Short Wave: Nature Quest — The Climate-Kid Question

Episode Release Date: May 27, 2025

In this compelling episode of NPR's Short Wave, hosts Emily Kwong and Hannah Chin delve into a pressing and emotionally charged topic: the impact of climate change on decisions about having and raising children. Titled "Nature Quest: The Climate-Kid Question," the episode navigates through personal stories, scientific research, and expert insights to explore how environmental concerns are shaping reproductive choices.

1. Introducing Alessandra Rahm's Story (00:16 - 02:16)

The episode opens with Emily Kwong introducing Alessandra Rahm, a journalist and former documentary producer for Al Jazeera. Alessandra shares her profound journey from covering climate narratives globally in places like Thailand and Canada to witnessing the direct impacts of climate change in her hometown of California.

• Alessandra Rahm (00:45): “A lot of those stories, even if they didn't start out focusing on climate, there were climate narratives there because so many stories are climate stories.”

Her recent experience of becoming a new parent brings a personal dimension to her environmental concerns. Alessandra expresses anxiety over the future her daughter Zara will inherit in a warming world.

• Alessandra Rahm (01:34): “Everything has changed in the last two weeks. For me, I can only think in like two and a half to three hour increments for when I'm feeding her or when I'm trying to get sleep, which is not often. So life becomes very moment by moment.”

2. The Climate-Kid Dilemma Explained (02:16 - 05:13)

Emily and Hannah Chin introduce the central question of the episode: How does climate anxiety influence the decision to have children? They highlight that this concern is particularly prevalent among younger generations. Citing a Pew Research survey, Hannah notes that over a quarter of people under 50 who choose not to have children cite environmental worries as a major factor.

Hannah Chin delves into the origins of this concern, tracing it back to a pivotal 2017 study published in Environmental Research Letters titled "The Climate Mitigation Gap."

3. The "Climate Mitigation Gap" Study and Its Impact (05:13 - 07:05)

Kimberly Nicholas, co-author of the study and a professor of sustainability science at Lund University, Sweden, explains the key findings. The research emphasizes actionable climate solutions such as reducing car usage, adopting plant-based diets, and minimizing air travel. Notably, the study highlights that high-frequency flyers contribute significantly to their carbon footprint.

• Kimberly Nicholas (05:13): “One round trip flight emits 1.6 tons and that's equivalent to two years of eating meat. So for a high flyer, someone who frequently flies, by far the biggest action you can do is reduce your flying.”

However, media coverage of the study disproportionately focused on the controversial fourth recommendation: having fewer children. This sparked intense debate, given the sensitive nature of reproductive choices.

4. Historical Context: Population Growth vs. Climate Change (07:05 - 08:18)

Jade Sasser, an associate professor at UC Riverside, provides historical context, tracing the harmful narrative linking population growth to environmental degradation back to the 1800s. She references Thomas Robert Malthus, whose theories suggested that population control was necessary to prevent resource depletion.

• Jade Sasser (07:05): “The consensus among environmentalists for a long time has been that population growth is bad for the environment because it means that more human beings on the planet will consume more resources and there will be less available for all of us and that we will all suffer as a result.”

Sasser clarifies that contemporary climate science identifies fossil fuel use and industrial activities as the primary drivers of climate change, not population growth per se.

• Jade Sasser (07:24): "Population growth, particularly when it comes to consumption, definitely has local impacts on local resources. But science tells us that is not what is driving global climate change."

5. Shifting the Focus to Immediate Climate Actions (08:18 - 11:21)

Kimberly Nicholas discusses the limitations of focusing solely on reproductive choices as a climate solution. Instead, she advocates for high-impact actions that can be taken immediately to reduce emissions, such as:

• Reducing air travel

• Adopting sustainable diets

• Supporting policy changes and renewable energy initiatives

• Kimberly Nicholas (08:18): “The math doesn't pencil out. If you say, okay, well, I'm someone who doesn't want to have a child. That means I get 50 flights a year.”

Hannah Chin emphasizes that while personal choices matter, the most significant impact comes from collective actions and systemic changes. Kimberly developed a High Impact Climate Action Guide to help individuals identify and implement effective strategies.

• Hannah Chin (10:28): “...the people best positioned to do those high impact climate actions aren't just politicians and energy CEOs. They're also anyone who makes a little over US$42,000 a year. Those people are part of the top 10% richest people on earth and we have a lot of power in this situation.”

6. Addressing Climate Anxiety and Finding Support (09:01 - 13:59)

The episode sensitively explores the psychological toll of climate anxiety. Climate distress, recognized by environmental psychologists, affects mental health and life decisions, including whether to have children.

• Jade Sasser (09:01): “It is in fact, according to environmental psychologists, quite normal to feel deeply anxious about these changes in our environment. There's nothing wrong with the feeling of climate anxiety or being reproductively anxious in response.”

Elizabeth Bayshard, of Mom's Clean Air Force, shares her journey from experiencing devastation during Hurricane Florence to mobilizing parents for climate action. She underscores the importance of community and support in navigating climate-related fears.

• Elizabeth Bayshard (12:31): “You need community. We all need community. None of us were meant to carry this alone.”

Practical tools like the Climate Emotions Wheel are recommended to help individuals and families process their feelings about climate change, fostering open conversations and collective resilience.

7. Embracing Hope and Collective Action (13:10 - 15:04)

The episode concludes on an optimistic note, highlighting how caring for children can be a source of hope and motivation for climate action. Engaging in parenting and community efforts fosters a sense of purpose and interconnectedness.

• Hannah Chin (14:27): “Caring for a child can also be a hopeful thing to do. It can connect us to each other, it can help us act because the future isn't set in stone.”

Listeners are encouraged to access the High Impact Climate Action Guide and other resources provided in the episode notes to take meaningful steps toward combating climate change.

Key Takeaways

• Climate Anxiety is Real: The psychological impact of climate change significantly influences reproductive and parenting decisions, especially among younger generations.

• Reframing the Narrative: While reproductive choices do contribute to carbon footprints, the primary drivers of climate change are systemic issues like fossil fuel dependence and industrial emissions.

• Empowering Actions: Individuals can make high-impact changes through collective efforts, policy advocacy, and supporting sustainable practices within their communities.

• Support Systems are Crucial: Building communities and utilizing emotional tools can help alleviate the distress associated with climate anxiety, enabling more informed and supported decisions about parenthood.

Resources Mentioned

• High Impact Climate Action Guide: Developed by Kimberly Nicholas and Christian Nielsen, available online.

• Mom's Clean Air Force: A group mobilizing parents and caregivers for climate action.

• Parent Climate Group: An email-based support network for parents concerned about climate change.

• Climate Emotions Wheel: A tool recommended by Jade Sasser for processing and discussing climate-related feelings.

Final Thoughts

Nature Quest: The Climate-Kid Question masterfully intertwines personal narratives with scientific research, offering a nuanced exploration of how climate change intersects with one of the most intimate human decisions: having children. By highlighting both the anxieties and the avenues for hope and action, the episode empowers listeners to make informed choices while contributing to broader climate solutions.

This episode was produced by Hannah Chin and Rachel Carlson, with editing by Rebecca Ramirez and fact-checking by Tyler Jones. Special thanks to Sam Paulson for the theme music.

Listen to more episodes of Short Wave here.