At 28 going on 29, Felicity Lochhead and her husband Hayden, 30, are at a stage in their lives where family and close friends are becoming curious about whether they plan to start a family.

But for Ms Lochhead, whether or not to have a child is a decision increasingly overshadowed by her worry about the impact of climate change.

Felicity Lochhead at her Windang home. Credit:Robert Peet

“It’s definitely something I have thought about when considering making that very big decision,” she said. “It’s not the only factor, of course, but it's a big factor because I want to consider the future for that potential child and if it's looking like it will be very damaging, then it’s going to be something I [weigh up] before deciding to bring them into the world.”

Ms Lochhead, from the Illawarra, south of Sydney, is not alone. According to a national survey of 6500 women, a third of those below the age of 30 have similar concerns.