2010-02-24

Replikk til notisen «Miljøvennlige studenter» i Universitas, 17. februar.

I was pleased to read about Studentsamskipnaden i Oslo (SiO) and Studentboligene’s new environmental campaign, «Hverdagshelt», recently launched to promote more recycling and less energy consumption in student housing. Such initiatives are positive. However, I am disappointed to see that the trend has not caught on at the University of Oslo (UiO) campus. The lack of recycling facilities on campus, combined with a widespread lack of everyday environmental awareness on the part of UiO students, is disturbing. Look at the canteens on campus, for example. How miljøvennlig, not to mention økonomisk-lønnsomt, is it really to buy an individually packaged slice of brunost or individual-sized kaviar tube, only to throw away this superfluous packaging into the garbage straight afterwards?
The university neither seems to encourage environmental awareness amongst its students. To the students themselves: the large majority of the UiO student body seems to be very environmentally aware when it comes to the bigger picture. Demonstrated for example in the wide student engagement and mobilization on issues such as the prevention of oil-drilling off of Lofoten and Vesterålen, and demanding that the Norwegian government take a tough stance on climate change in the international arena. These efforts are commendable, but I urge my fellow colleagues to also remember that climate change must also be fought on the individual, personal level. Practice what you preach: reduce personal consumption, choose products with minimal packaging and recycle that paper cup – or even better, bring your own mug.

Lixian Cheng, program assistant, Scandinavian Urban Studies Term/Divided States of Europe, University of Oslo.