Anna Aretha Sach is a PhD student at the University of Amsterdam. Her doctoral project is focused on understanding why people engage in climate activism. She is supervised by Dr Cameron Brick, Dr Disa Sauter and Dr Nils Jostmann. She graduated a Master in Interdisciplinary studies in Environmental, Economic and Social Sustainability at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, focusing on Political Ecology and sustainable mobilities. Previously, she completed a B.Sc. in Psychology at the University of Bonn, in which she studied pro-environmental behavior and the support for radical climate politics.

Media appearances

• The emotional pulse of protest: Why people stand up against injustices (article)

• Waarom demonstreren zoveel emoties losmaakt (video in English and Dutch)

• Fueling the Fire: How emotions spark and sustain climate activism (recording)

• Fueling the Fir: How emotions spark and sustain climate activism (blog post)

• Zeit Online

Other links

• Brick Lab
• Amsterdam Interdisciplinary Centre for Emotions (AICE)
• Programme group Social Psychology
• Psychology Institute
• Graduate School Kurt Lewin Instituut (KLI)
• UvA Sustainability Platform (USP)

Research methods

• Qualitative Interviews
• Participartory Action Research
• Experience Sampling Method

Current research projects

• Daily diaries on climate activists’ wellbeing, actions and emotions

• Surveying climate activists’ past engagement and action intentions
• Systematic literature review on psychological factors underlying collective climate action
• Interviewing activists about their initial experience integrating into climate movements

Current cooperations

• Anna Castiglione, University of Trento
• Extinction Rebellion United Kingdom Data Analysis and Insights Circle 

RPA

• Real Emotion

MA Thesis

• Julie Wojtanowski (2025) Burnout in Activism: A Systematic Review on Prevention and Coping Strategies
• Melle Krikke (2025) Inducing Emotions to Increase Collective Climate Action: A Systematic Review
• Ania Doornebos (2024) Needs and Difficulties of New Climate Activists: A Qualitative Exploration
• Roos Herings (2024) Organizational Socialization in Climate Movements: An Interview Study on Newcomers’ Experiences and Psychological Needs During Their Initial Phase of Engagement