The Sámi and Dutch youth: how two worlds experience climate change
Valesca Venhof examined the impact of climate change on the mental health of young people. How do they cope with the relentless stream of grim news about the future of their climate? Indifference, born from not knowing where to begin, defines their stance.
In her research, Valesca compares two groups: Dutch youth and the Sámi, the Indigenous people of northern Scandinavia. “I wanted to understand how they deal with environmental stress, the stress caused by changes in our natural surroundings, such as climate change, air pollution, or the loss of green spaces,” she explains. For the Sámi, climate change is a tangible reality. “They see their traditional way of life as reindeer herders under threat,” she says. “This strikes at the heart of their culture, their identity, their food security.” Valesca conducts her research at System Earth Science at the Venlo campus of the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
For Dutch youth, the experience is different. “Here, the impact is less visible but still deeply felt,” Valesca notes. Her research reveals that 20% of young people say environmental stress disrupts their daily functioning. “They sleep poorly, struggle to concentrate, and worry about the future.” Yet there is a striking contradiction: 60% believe their own behaviour has little to no effect on their environment. “This may seem like indifference, but I think it’s more complex,” she argues. “Their attitude doesn’t stem from a lack of concern. Climate change affects them profoundly, but precisely because of that, they deny what it means for their own choices.”
Valesca’s findings show that climate stress and denial often go hand in hand. “Young people feel powerless,” she says. “They think: what can I do alone? And when they realise their surroundings, parents, friends, politicians, aren’t receptive to their concerns, they withdraw.” This explains why so many are worried yet fail to take action. “It’s a form of psychological defence,” she explains. “When something feels too vast and too frightening, it’s easier to deny or suppress its consequences.”
It’s a form of psychological defence. When something feels too vast and too frightening, it’s easier to deny or suppress its consequences.
Valesca VenhofWhat can we learn from the Sámi?
The Sámi have a fundamentally different relationship with nature than Western society. “For them, nature is part of who they are,” Valesca says. “They understand that everything in nature is interconnected and that actions have consequences, even for future generations.”
In the Netherlands, the perspective differs. “We have an anthropocentric worldview. Humans are central and dominate nature. This makes it harder to feel the urgency of climate change.” Yet she also sees a growing desire in the Netherlands to reconnect with nature. Initiatives like “nature on prescription,” where doctors encourage patients to spend time outdoors for their health, show this shift.
The power of stories and connection
Valesca emphasises that science alone isn’t enough. “We talk too much within our own silos,” she says. “Climatologists speak to climatologists, psychologists to psychologists. We often call research interdisciplinary, but true collaboration is rare. We need to work together, with young people, Indigenous communities, and policymakers, to find solutions that meet the needs of (young) people.”
The power of stories and connection
Valesca emphasises that science alone isn’t enough. “We talk too much within our own silos,” she says. “Climatologists speak to climatologists, psychologists to psychologists. We often call research interdisciplinary, but true collaboration is rare. We need to work together, with young people, Indigenous communities, and policymakers, to find solutions that meet the needs of (young) people.”
A key lesson from her research: young people want to be heard. “They need safe spaces to express their concerns without judgement,” she says. “And they want practical tools, not just doom-and-gloom stories, but examples of what works.”
She advocates for intergenerational collaboration. “Older generations have knowledge and experience; young people think more creatively. Combining these strengths can drive real progress.” Systems thinking is also crucial: “Everything is connected. When you turn one gear, the rest move too. Young people must learn that their choices have an impact, not just on the climate, but on each other as well.”
Hope in times of crisis
Valesca urges us to view the world through multiple lenses. “By examining scientific problems not just through a Western perspective, but also through the eyes of other cultures, we gain a far more complete understanding of both the problems and the solutions.” This approach is called Two-Eyed Seeing.
From physician to climate researcher
Valesca Venhof’s career began as a rehabilitation physician, working in hospitals for 14 years. Gradually, her interest in the relationship between our living environment and health grew. “I became increasingly concerned about climate change and realised I’d always been interested in health at the population level,” she says.
She transitioned to environmental medicine at GGD Groningen and completed a master’s in public health, specialising in environment and health, in London. There, she discovered the field of Planetary Health and met her current supervisor, Pim Martens, from the System Earth Science research group at the Faculty of Science and Engineering in Venlo. On 27 March 2026, she will defend her PhD thesis at Maastricht University.
She remains realistic. “The world isn’t in great shape,” she admits. “At the climate summit in Egypt, I saw how difficult it is to align countries with conflicting interests. But I also saw young people and activists creating an undercurrent, a movement that offers hope.” Sometimes, solutions come from unexpected places. In January, climate lawyer Roger Cox received an honorary doctorate from Maastricht University for demonstrating how the law can be used to enforce change.
Her message to (older) readers? “Start small. Talk to the young people around you. Spend time in nature. Seek connection. And remember: even when things seem hopeless, there are always people taking action, people from whom we can learn.”
Advice for support
Based on her research with the Sámi and Dutch youth; Valesca offers seven concrete recommendations to help young people cope with climate stress:
- Foster meaningful connections with nature; whether through walking, gardening, or “nature on prescription.” Contact with green spaces reduces stress.
- Provide a sense of agency; show young people that their actions, however small, make a difference.
- Share realistic yet hopeful stories; avoid doom-mongering, but be honest about the challenges.
- Create space for emotions; establish discussion groups or safe spaces where young people can share their concerns.
- Encourage knowledge exchange between generations; bring older and younger people together to learn from each other.
- Break down disciplinary silos; scientists, artists, policymakers, and young people must collaborate to design solutions.
- Promote systems thinking; help young people understand how everything is interconnected, so they see the broader impact of their choices.
- Develop adaptive leadership; leaders should recognise that flexibility leads to solutions.
Want to know more?
Valesca’s dissertation: “Navigating the Storm: Towards Coexisting Ways of Knowing in Approaching Environmental Distress.” On March 27, her thesis will be published online.
A Question for You
What do you do to reduce climate stress in young people (or yourself)?
Maastricht University, celebrating its 50th anniversary, offers funding for initiatives that strengthen the connection between the university and society. Do you have ideas that align with the university’s sustainability goals and help connect scientists and young people around climate stress? Submit your proposal by 1 March.
Text: Patrick Marx
Photography: Valesca Venhof, Nikola Johnny Mirkovic, Kelly Sikkema