Kamala Harris claims Gen Z Americans fear having kids because of 'climate anxiety'

WASHINGTON, DC: Former Vice President Kamala Harris has sparked a fresh wave of controversy after claiming that young Americans are too anxious about climate change to consider having children.

Speaking at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Gala at the Washington National Cathedral in DC on October 14, Harris said members of Generation Z are increasingly fearful about bringing kids into a world plagued by “extreme weather.”

Harris, known for her strong advocacy on abortion and environmental issues, said, “They are experiencing what they’ve coined ‘climate anxiety,’ which is their fear that because of changing in extreme weather that the future of their lives is very much at stake.”

She went on to share a personal anecdote about her goddaughter, who she said broke down crying about the future. “She asked me, ‘Should I even be thinking about having children?’” Harris recounted.

Kamala Harris’ remarks echo past statements on climate anxiety

This isn’t the first time Harris has addressed the subject. During a 2020 appearance at Reading Area Community College in Pennsylvania, she cited conversations with “young leaders” who told her they had coined the term "climate anxiety".

Harris said the emotion represents “fear of the future and the unknown, whether it makes sense to even think about having children or owning a home because of what this climate will be.”

Her comments resurfaced during the 2024 presidential campaign, drawing renewed attention to how younger generations are responding to environmental concerns and how the administration has handled climate change policy.

Climate anxiety among young people continues to rise

Surveys show that the issue Harris referenced does have a foothold. Pew Research (2023) found that 55 percent of Democrats believe having fewer children positively impacts the environment, and 78 percent see climate change as a “major threat.”

In 2025, Pew data showed that people in their 20s and 30s are planning smaller families, with the US birthrate at 1.6 births per woman, below the replacement rate.

Still, Gallup reported in September that Americans’ ideal family size remains around 2.7 children, with 45 percent of respondents preferring larger families - the highest since 1971.

Meanwhile, Harris’ stepdaughter also echoed her sentiments, saying on TikTok that she feels “disgust” about the state of the planet and suffers from “a lot of climate anxiety.”

As Harris continues to emphasize the emotional impact of the climate crisis on young people, critics argue that her remarks reflect a political disconnect - one where the administration recognizes the anxiety, but not the policies driving it.