I was convinced I would never have a child due to climate dread. Then I selfishly had one anyway

August 4, 2026 — 1:30pm

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When I was 27, I sat my partner down and told him in no uncertain terms that I couldn’t reconcile having a child with my growing climate dread.

I was convinced – like many Millennials – that bringing a child into a world that was slowly breaking down due to climate inaction was irresponsible. But also that the dread that dogged me about the future of our planet would ultimately taint my experience of parenthood.

When I allowed myself to consider the potential joy of parenting, it was immediately countered by the fear of not being able to guarantee a safe and happy future for my child. The risk to their happiness, and therefore my own, was too significant to ignore. There was no way I could take that leap.

Fast-forward seven years and I had given birth to our son. My dread hadn’t changed. I was still very stressed about the climate crisis. To that I’d added the........

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