Climate Change in The Netherlands

“The Netherlands'' means “The Low Lands.” Much of our country is already below sea level. We are a river delta and without the protection of dykes and dunes, 2⁄3 of our country would be flooded. As such, water is our livelihood and our vulnerability, necessitating keen monitoring and adaptation to protect against rising sea levels and stronger storms. However, heavier rainfall in the basin of the Rhine, Meuse, and Scheldt rivers is a bigger concern (1). Concurrently, heat waves surge, causing extreme droughts in summer. Intensive farming, industry, and traffic contribute to a nitrogen crisis (2), degrading soils, reducing biodiversity, and polluting air (3). Dutch citizens experience a spectrum of emotional and psychological responses, from eco-anxiety to denial, shaping a politically polarized discourse on climate change (4). To protect our vulnerable country and foster unity in tackling this critical, multifaceted problem, we need innovative solutions.

Climate-related mental health impacts

Psychologists in the Netherlands are witnessing a growing trend of clients attributing their mental health issues to climate change and humanity's response to it (5). Population studies reveal pervasive eco-anxiety, eco-grief, and eco-anger among citizens (6,7), reaching debilitating levels (8) as they grasp the severity of the climate and ecological crises. More directly, the heightened frequency and intensity of weather events cause stress, grief, and trauma through damages to property, infrastructure, and personal health. Heatwaves cause heat stress, sleep issues, and social isolation (9). Lower crop yields due to droughts form a risk for farmers’ livelihood (10) and are a contributing factor to suicide among farmers (11). Failing crops strain the cost of living for citizens, which can aggravate poverty and mental health issues (12). Despite these challenges, there is a gap in knowledge and resources, hindering our ability to address and mitigate the mental health consequences of the climate crisis for the Dutch population. Addressing these complex issues requires a comprehensive approach, incorporating both mental health care and action to mitigate and adapt to climate change (13,14,15)

Description of the intervention

Stichting Klimaatpsychologie, a burgeoning non-profit foundation comprising over 100 Dutch psychologists, stands at the forefront of addressing the intersection of mental health and climate change. Inspired by personal experience, our clientele’s experience, and similar organizations in other countries, like Psychologists4Future and the Climate Psychologist Alliance, our unique approach has a dual objective: stimulating pro-environmental behavior and improving mental health, as stated in our manifest (16) and factsheet (17). We stimulate pro-environmental behavior through consultancy, training, coaching, and interventions targeted at the public, professional, and government levels (18). We improve mental health by helping individuals and groups cope with eco-emotions that have debilitating impacts on day-to-day functioning. We work towards these goals through over 20 working groups, organized in a snowflake model (a way of organizing semi-independent groups within a larger organization)(19) each dedicated to a different topic (e.g., Education & Research, Child & Climate, Healthcare & Climate).

Tangible outcomes of our effort include a two-day training on climate psychology (20) and a free toolkit for psychologists (21). Additionally, our forthcoming book for higher education courses on climate psychology exemplifies our commitment to knowledge dissemination (22). Besides that, we engage with the media, providing expert insights through interviews, articles (23), and our own blogs (24). We speak, consult, train, and give workshops for organizations and governments seeking climate psychological expertise (25). Furthermore, we organize resilience groups, where people can gather in mutual support in coping with eco-emotions (26). Lastly, we contributed to the Dutch Climate Research Initiative to embed mental health and behavior change expertise in climate research.

Despite our impactful initiatives, we face challenges – notably, the growing overhead costs due to our rapid growth and our lack of consistent funding. We are continuously searching for funds so that our organization can continue and expand its efforts. Additionally, we grapple with inventive climate-denying narratives, which have shifted from attacking the reality of climate change and its human cause to attacking solutions, science, people facing mental health challenges, and the climate movement (27,28), including our foundation’s members.

Key insights and lessons learned

The evolution of our foundation, Stichting Klimaatpsychologie, has been a journey of discovery, learning, and organic growth through trial and error. Our bottom-up approach and snowflake organization structure (29), led by impassioned psychologists, have been instrumental in shaping the foundation's trajectory. This grassroots development gave us the experience of developing our foundation ‘from scratch.’ Consequently, we are well-positioned to guide psychologists and other experts with similar incentives on how to forge a non-profit organization. For this, we share our manifest (30) and organizational structure, as well as resources such as our book (31) and website (32). Within our foundation, members continuously learn from each other. We would be more than happy to share experiences with fellow climate-minded psychologists and other experts.

The UK's Climate Psychology Alliance provides a noteworthy example with a longer history, focusing predominantly on mental health. This demonstrates the desire and demand for such collectives in countries similar to ours. Recognizing the universal nature of eco-emotions experienced across (Western) Europe (33), we believe our foundation's model and efforts are transferable to other countries. Taking initial steps, we have translated our toolkit into German (34), marking the beginning of a broader outreach.

As a case study for Connecting Climate Minds and the Planetary Health Alliance, our visibility extends internationally. Leveraging this platform, we aspire to inspire psychologists in diverse regions to initiate or join similar organizations. Our foundation is ready and eager to play an advisory and supportive role in the formation of these entities, recognizing the collective strength that arises when like-minded professionals come together to address the critical intersection of climate, behavior, and mental health.

Recommendations

By uniting climate psychologists within our foundation, we bolster mental health practices through collective effort. Through the outlined activities, we aspire to set a precedent for others, urging climate-minded psychologists globally to initiate or join foundations akin to ours. Recognizing the climate crisis as fundamentally behavioral (35), we emphasize the pivotal role of psychologists and behavioral experts in its resolution.

To Dutch governments, organizations, and groups, we advocate continuous collaboration by seeking our expertise. Through our contributions, we can enhance policies and interventions for climate change mitigation and adaptation, promoting a more sustainable future.

Internally, our effectiveness as a movement depends on our capacity to sustain, innovate, and evaluate our efforts. We want to achieve longevity through a more secure financial foundation using, for example, subsidies, outreach, and local collaborations. Our various working groups, organized in a snowflake model, are the ideal grounds for bottom-up innovation of our existing and new activities. Scientific evaluation of our efforts, including resilience groups, is integral. The Connecting Climate Minds Case Study serves as one tool for such reflective analysis, aiding in the continuous enhancement of our foundation.

Our ultimate objective is to tip the climate crisis through the creation of social tipping points, achieved through the impactful application of climate psychology. We encourage collaboration, innovation, and continuous evaluation as essential strategies for navigating the complex intersection of climate, behavior, and mental health.

References

1.UN (2015). Water for life Voices. Knowledge Bank. Room for the River in the Delta, The Netherlands. Available here: https://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/waterforlifevoices/cases_dmie_netherlands.shtml

2. Mouissie S (2022). Het stikstofprobleem is echt Nederlands, uitgelegd in acht grafieken. NOS. Available here: https://nos.nl/collectie/13901/artikel/2436073-het-stikstofprobleem-is-echt-nederlands-uitgelegd-in-acht-grafieken

3. Klimaateffectatlas (2023). Available here: https://www.klimaateffectatlas.nl/nl/

4. Rooduijn M (2019). Wie zijn de klimaatsceptici? Stukroodvlees . Available here: https://stukroodvlees.nl/wie-zijn-de-klimaatsceptici/

5. UNRIC (2023). Klimaatverandering: de gevolgen voor mentale gezondheid. Available here: https://unric.org/nl/klimaatverandering-mentale-gezondheid/

6.McPhie, T., & Rietdorf, L. (2021). Eurobarometer Survey: Europeans consider climate change to be the most serious problem facing the world (Eurobarometer Survey). European Commission. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_3156

7. European Union. Eurobarometer. Climate Change. Available here: https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2273

8.Van Valkengoed, A. M. (2023). Climate anxiety is not a mental health problem. But we should still treat it as one. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 79(6), 385–387. https://doi.org/10.1080/00963402.2023.2266942

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10. Klimaateffectatlas (2023). Available here: https://www.klimaateffectatlas.nl/nl/

11. Factsheet Suicidaliteit onder agrariers (2020). Available here: https://www.113.nl/sites/default/files/113/Agrariers%20factsheet%20final2.pdf

12. Kerr S (2023) Yes, the climate crisis is raising your grocery bills. The Guardian. Available here: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/27/climate-crisis-grocery-bills-food-environment

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https://www.rivm.nl/nieuws/onvoldoende-kennis-om-gezondheid-in-nederland-te-beschermen-tegen-klimaatverandering

14. Klimaatpsychologie (2022). Waarom de planeet een klimaatpsycholoog nodig heeft. Available here: https://www.klimaatpsychologie.com/post/waarom-de-planeet-een-klimaatpsycholoog-nodig-heeft

15. BPS Communications (2023) Psychologists uniquely placed to help tackle climate change says new statement from BPS Climate Environment Action Coordinating Group. Available here: https://www.bps.org.uk/news/psychologists-uniquely-placed-help-tackle-climate-change-says-new-position-statement-bps

16. Klimaatpsychologie (2023). Manifest Waar wij voor gaan en staan! Available here: https://www.klimaatpsychologie.com/_files/ugd/3c9411_c177f41eb79a4ac7840b38f07e06f874.pdf

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18. Klimaatpsychologie (2023). Ik heb een groene gedragsopgave. Available here: https://www.klimaatpsychologie.com/ik-heb-een-gedragsopgave

19. Finucane B (2022). The Snowflake Model of Community Engagement. Available from: https://www.ecanvasser.com/blog/community-engagement-strategies

20. Klimaatpsychologie (2023). Basisopleiding Klimaatpsychologie. Available here: https://www.klimaatpsychologie.com/ik-wil-een-opleiding-doen

21. Klimaatpsychologie (2023). Toolkit voor behandelaars. Available here: https://www.klimaatpsychologie.com/toolkitvoorbehandelaars

22. Boompsychologie (2024) Klimaatpsychologie. Available here: https://www.boompsychologie.nl/product/100-15057_Klimaatpsychologie

23. Klimaatpsychologie (2024). Zoek jij een klimaatpsycholoog in de media? Available here: https://www.klimaatpsychologie.com/in-de-media

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26. Klimaatpsychologie (2024). Veerkrachtgroep. Available here: https://www.klimaatpsychologie.com/veerkrachtgroep

27. Ramirez R (2024). What is ‘new denial?’ An alarming wave of climate misinformation is spreading on YouTube, watchdog says. CNN. Available here: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/16/climate/climate-denial-misinformation-youtube/index.html

28. Rooduijn M (2019). Wie zijn de klimaatsceptici? Stukroodvlees. Available here:

https://stukroodvlees.nl/wie-zijn-de-klimaatsceptici/

29. Finucane B (2022). The Snowflake Model of Community Engagement. Available from: https://www.ecanvasser.com/blog/community-engagement-strategies

30. Klimaatpsychologie (2023). Manifest Waar wij voor gaan en staan! Available here: https://www.klimaatpsychologie.com/_files/ugd/3c9411_c177f41eb79a4ac7840b38f07e06f874.pdf

31. Boompsychologie (2024) Klimaatpsychologie. Available here: https://www.boompsychologie.nl/product/100-15057_Klimaatpsychologie

32. Klimaatpsychologie (2024). Available here: https://www.klimaatpsychologie.com/

33. McPhie, T., & Rietdorf, L. (2021). Eurobarometer Survey: Europeans consider climate change to be the most serious problem facing the world (Eurobarometer Survey). European Comission. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_3156

34. Klimaatpsychologie (2023). Toolkit voor behandelaars. Available here: https://www.klimaatpsychologie.com/toolkitvoorbehandelaars

35. Merz, J. J., Barnard, P., Rees, W. E., Smith, D., Maroni, M., Rhodes, C. J., Dederer, J. H., Bajaj, N., Joy, M. K., Wiedmann, T., & Sutherland, R. (2023). World scientists’ warning: The behavioural crisis driving ecological overshoot. Science Progress, 106(3), 00368504231201372. https://doi.org/10.1177/00368504231201372