In a world full of celebrities who frankly don’t seem to care,
About all the damage they are doing seems deeply unfair.
To expect the youth, already weighed down by tuition and rent,
To fix the mess made by decades of poorly monitored corporate intent.
We, the broke students, walking or biking in the rain,
Rehoming our clothes so we can afford to pay for a train.
We’re the ones of the future, the inheritors of this fate,
So place your bets: will we act in time, or is it already too late?
Our terra is trembling, she can’t take it much more,
Floods in the summer, forest fires galore.
The seasons feel scrambled, the skies are confused,
And still we scroll past it all, digitally amused.
But then I left home, flew over oceans and skies,
And found myself standing wide-eyed, surprised.
Before this journey, I thought the UK was ahead,
A recycling queen, so to be said.
But arriving in China, I saw a different truth,
In a nation often painted unfairly, I uncovered real proof.
A land so vast, yet strikingly clean,
From city centres to forests, little trace of the obscene.
An easy way to discover a city’s hidden treasures,
Is by going on foot, using sustainable measures.
With every stride, I saw so much with ease,
Averaging 20k steps a day, it was such a breeze.
Public transport that runs like a dream,
Electric buses humming like a stream.
Metro stations spotless, recycling bins in place,
Even public toilets, a surprisingly pristine space.
Bikes lined the pavements, unlocked with a tap,
A QR code, no fuss, no carbon trap.
The streets felt alive, but the air felt light,
No traffic-clogged mornings, no smog in sight.
Cultural habits carved from collective pride,
A few rules enforced, but more respect supplied.
People act for the common good, not just self-gain,
A mindset shift we in the West must urgently attain.
I didn’t need a lecture, or a carbon chart,
Just a day immersed in an eco-smart heart.
And while I won’t drop stats in this poetic plea,
I saw SDG 11 and 13 in action, right in front of me.
Sustainable Cities, where systems align,
And Climate Action, woven into design.
Not perfection, no, but progress in motion,
A societal pact, not just a token notion.
Now I’ve returned home, a bit changed in the core,
More aware of the choices I used to ignore.
I reuse with intention, I question my waste,
I walk with purpose, not just in haste.
So, here’s my call, not to guilt or to shame,
But to urge us to take part in the SDG 12 game.
Let’s rethink our habits, both big and small,
Because sustainability’s not a trend, it’s an urgent call.
We can’t fix this alone, but together we might,
If we challenge convenience and choose what is right.
And maybe next time a star boards a jet,
They’ll ask themselves, “Is there a better way yet?”
