Hi, as an anti-natalist: while I saw the climate change branded as the leading motivation for anti-natalism, I don’t think that anti-natalists should first and foremost be regarded as motivated in their views by the climate change concerns.
I think this is sort of right—while climate change is often the main ideological reason people quote for not wanting to have children, typically personal reasons for the would-be parents come first (lifestyle, housing etc.). See for example:
Those who do not have children and do not want to have a child in the future more often express concern about their personal situation, compared to external factors, as influencing their decisions:
Personal independence: 54%
Personal financial situation: 46%
Work/life balance: 40%
Housing prices: 33%
Safety: 31%
US politics: 31%
Climate change: 28%
Younger adults more frequently than the general population agree that people should not have children due to anticipated harm it causes to others and the planet.
One in 5 US adults (20%) agree with the statement that people should stop having children because of the harm it causes (i.e. to other people, animals, or the environment). That number climbs to 1 in 4 among young adults (25%).
While one-third of US adults (34%) agree that “people should stop having children because their children’s quality of life will be poor,” that number increases among young adults (42%).
Lastly, while more than half of US adults (52%) are concerned about the impact of overpopulation on the planet, 58% of young adults share that concern.
Hi, as an anti-natalist: while I saw the climate change branded as the leading motivation for anti-natalism, I don’t think that anti-natalists should first and foremost be regarded as motivated in their views by the climate change concerns.
I think this is sort of right—while climate change is often the main ideological reason people quote for not wanting to have children, typically personal reasons for the would-be parents come first (lifestyle, housing etc.). See for example: