“Young Reporters go on a fishing expedition”

Consumers have a great responsibility when it comes to our impact on the environment – good or bad. But to be able to make the right choices, we need help from our local representatives, they need to guide us through the food jungle. To do so, they must be environmentally aware and know how they can do their bit. We went out and interviewed market stall holders and fishmongers in Lund about their view on the Climate Smart Food conference arranged by the EU.

Claes Hylliendahl is one of the stall holders selling fruit and vegetables on Mårtenstorget in central Lund. He wants to be environmentally friendly by selling organic produce and he also adapts his range of products according to season. Ola Larsson is another of the market stall holders that we interview. He is not aware of the conference taking place, but he does give some thought to environmental issues. For example, he tries to reduce his own wastage and so reduce wastage of our natural resources.

Safeguarding the environment
Young Reporters continue to the market hall to get more answers. Here we find two environmentally aware fishmongers at Saluhallens Fisk AB with many good ideas of how to help and safeguard the environment. Erik Malmsten and Håkan Petterson answer all our questions. They are both aware that the Climate Smart Food conference is taking place in Lund and are familiar with the issues under discussion.

Environmentally aware customers
Håkan Petterson thinks that his customers have become more environmentally aware and this has forced a change in the range of products available. Customers now care more about where the fish they buy comes from and that the sea’s ecosystems are not disturbed. Saluhallens Fisk AB has been doing its best for the environment for a long time, by reducing long-distance transport, reducing wastage and having a good system for recycling waste. This system will be even further improved as the market hall is to be redeveloped. Mr Petterson realises that there must be fish available if he is to keep his job and so he fish. He thinks that it is wrong that many people consider it more important to earn money than to improve the situation for the environment.

Unfortunately, we must conclude that not everyone is familiar with the work of the EU. The fact that some people are interested and want to do their best for the environment is a positive thing and gives us hope for the future. We hope that the conference in Lund and the issue of food from a climate perspective will be given greater media coverage, make more people aware of the environmental problem and, above all, make them do something about it!

Pernilla Svensson, Linnéskolan, Hässleholm
Emely Fredman, Linnéskolan, Hässleholm
Eric Tegnander, Katedralskolan, Lund