In recent years, the concept of reproductive climate concerns has gradually ignited public debate and attracted academic attention around the world. The issues fall under the umbrella of \u201ceco-reproductive concerns\u201d, along with issues such as ecosystem collapse, pollution, health and justice.<\/p>\n
Reproductive climate concerns are being widely discussed not just in developed nations like the US, UK and Australia, but increasingly among young people in developing countries such as India, the Philippines and Brazil.<\/p>\n
In 2021, a survey of over 10,000 young people in ten countries was conducted by universities and research institutes, including Bath and Stanford universities. The results show that the climate crisis is causing serious mental distress to young people, with 41% hesitant to have children.<\/p>\n
\nIf I have a child whom I love, yet at the same time the world keeps getting worse\u2026 I don\u2019t know if I\u2019d regret bringing the child into this world<\/strong> —\u00a0Zi Xuan, 26, unsure whether to have children<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Reproductive climate concerns are also gradually emerging among younger Chinese people. At the end of 2020, Fu Xiyao, Matthew Schneider-Mayerson and Marvin Joseph F. Montefrio used an online questionnaire to survey 173 people in China who were concerned or alarmed about climate change. Most of the respondents were urban residents and women between 21 and 35, the majority of whom had at least a bachelor\u2019s degree, and one-fifth of whom were already parents.<\/p>\n
Although the survey was targeted only at climate-concerned or -alarmed citizens, the study is the first to explore the multiple associations and influences between climate change and reproductive choice among young Chinese, and shed light on their perception of, thoughts about, and actions around climate change.<\/p>\n