Emilia Flint
That’s why the young star is actively committed to the climate
Emilia Flint became known to a wide audience as Alice Goldman in the “Peppercorn” series.
© VLENS
“Peppercorn” star Emilia Flint is actively committed to the climate. In an interview, she reveals how she is making her life more sustainable.
Alongside inflation and the war in Europe, climate change remains one of the main concerns of many young people in Germany, as the new trend study “Youth in Germany” shows. The 16-year-old actress Emilia Flint also thinks it is important to “actively support our climate”, as she reveals as part of the “History Award 2023” on the topic “Water is life”.
The actress, known from the “Peppercorn” series, takes over the patronage of the “History Award 2023” alongside moderator Ralph Caspers (50). Together with the TV broadcaster The History Channel, they invite schoolchildren of all ages and school types to engage with the resource of water in the past, present and future in the form of a video project. Registration and participation in the school competition is possible at www.history-award.de. In an interview, Flint tells us exactly what her commitment here looks like, how sustainably she organizes her own life and what she thinks of the much-discussed climate stickers.
Your feature film “The Peppercorns and the Treasure of the Deep Sea” already addressed the threat to the environment and the pollution of the oceans by plastic waste. What influence did the film have on you personally, how much did it change your perspective?
Emilia Flint: I would say that I was already very concerned about our environment before, but the film expanded my knowledge even more. It has really become clear to me how incredibly big the garbage problem is in our seas and rivers. After that, for example, I got into the habit of picking up rubbish and throwing it in the nearest rubbish bin whenever I was somewhere on the beach and spotted rubbish.
Now you are taking over the patronage of the History Award 2023 on the topic “Water is Life”. How exactly is your involvement here?
Fint: I’m part of the jury, which means I can look at a selection of the best videos from all the participating students and give my opinion on them. I will also be present at the award ceremony in Munich in the spring. I am really looking forward to this!
How are you making your life more sustainable?
Flint: Above all, I try to avoid packaging waste, which means that if I order something to eat or drink to go, I bring my own containers with me. In addition, I haven’t eaten meat for a few years because animal welfare is very important to me and industrial animal husbandry is also very bad for our climate. When it comes to skin care products, I make sure that they contain neither microplastics nor mineral oil and that the product is not tested on animals. Unfortunately, all this happens relatively often and is a very big problem when it comes to our environment.
Can you do without plastic completely?
Flint: No, unfortunately not yet. I also find it really difficult, because you still encounter plastic all the time in everyday life.
In which area do you find it particularly easy to act sustainably?
Flint: I would say that for the most part it’s easy for me to give up meat and also to pay attention to which care products I buy and what’s in them. Of course, since I live in the city, it’s not a problem to use public transport and not so much to drive.
And where do you find it particularly difficult?
Flint: I think I could definitely improve on the subject of clothes. I’m buying more and more from second-hand shops, but I should still be careful to buy a little less. When it comes to travel, it’s also quite difficult for me, because I want to see a lot of our world and sometimes get on a plane to do so.
What do you think of the repeatedly discussed generational conflict on the subject of sustainability?
Flint: I agree that the older generation definitely should have taken care of our environment earlier, but I’m not saying that this generation isn’t doing anything. At least not in my family. Many people are slowly realizing what our future is like. I just sometimes have the feeling that the older generation is holding back a bit when it comes to the issue of the environment, since it tends to not affect them for as long as the younger generation. As a result, many more young people are fighting against climate change because it is about our future.
How do you feel about the actions of the climate stickers?
Flint: Actually, I think it’s great when a group of people are so noticeably committed to our environment. I’m just a bit scared that some people now associate climate protection with something negative rather than something positive, as there is always a lot of anger about such actions. I find it a pity that a peaceful demonstration such as Fridays For Future does not seem to have a greater impact on our politics and, in my opinion, is not taken seriously enough. Nevertheless, I think it is important to actively work for our climate and I hope that these rather drastic measures by the climate stickers will have more of an impact.
The new year has just begun, have you made any resolutions?
Flint: I’m really keen to see new places this year that I’ve never been to and I want to take advantage of every acting opportunity I get.
What plans do you have for the new year?
Flint: I’m going to finish tenth grade this year and do my MSA and hopefully have a really cool class trip afterwards.
Where do you see yourself in ten years, will we continue to see you in front of the camera as an actress?
Flint: Yeah, I’m pretty sure about that at the moment! Acting is so much fun for me and I always like meeting new people and working together in a large team. So of course I think it would be great if I had the opportunity to do so later.