In the heart of Stockholm’s thirty-thousand-strong archipelago,
The move towards a cleaner, greener future is already a go.
While travel and sustainability don’t always go hand-in-hand,
Here are some of the measures I’ll take to protect the Swedish land.
I’ll buy a bike and ride Stockholm’s nine hundred miles of trails,
Facebook Marketplace providing a platform to find bargain second-hand sales. (1)
Weaving through the bike lanes with my helmet strapped tight,
I’ll remember that in Sweden they drive on the right!
(SDG 3 & 11)
I’ll take the metro and admire the underground art on display,
Travelling solely on green energy, it runs both night and day. (2)
Each of the hundred stations displaying a unique platform,
To public transport norms it most certainly does not conform.
(SDG 7 & 9)
I’ll use Too Good to Go to stop food going to waste, (3)
Ensuring my new-found love for fika is never misplaced.
I’ll buy kanelbullar and semlor for my sweet-treat fix,
“I’m supporting local bakeries!” I say, with sugar on my lips.
(SDG 12)
I’ll eat what’s local and seasonal and caught near the coast,
Enjoying fresh seafood from waters that Sweden proudly boasts.
By choosing line-caught and organic and plant-based where I can,
I’ll reduce carbon emissions with every meal that I plan.
(SDG 2 & 14)
For my weekend ski trips to Äre, I’ll board the night train,
Leaving Stockholm Central, waking to snow on the windowpane.
Spending my days on the slopes, I’ll leave no physical trace,
Just the tracks of my skis, to the bottom we race.
(SDG 13)
I’ll visit the Fritidsbanken to rent my skis, boots, and poles, (4)
Supporting Sweden’s circular economy while making it affordable to all.
Full of second-hand equipment passed down through generations,
It embodies the Swedish way whilst reducing the cost of my vacations.
(SDG 10 & 12)
I’ll take the ferry to Helsinki for a weekend trip away,
Choosing sea over sky to keep emissions at bay.
I’ll stand out on deck as we cross the Baltic Sea,
Looking out in suspense to spot a whale or maybe three.
(SDG 13)
I’ll check Naturkarten for swim spots, both clean and serene, (5)
Although in the depths of the winter, I won’t be so keen.
But come summer, I’ll use Ecosia to forecast the heat, (6)
Each search plants trees – hard for Google to beat!
(SDG 6)
I’ll spend my Sundays at flea markets admiring the Scandi style,
Sifting rack to rack, it may take me quite a while.
When I triumph in my search for the next best thing,
The planet cries with glee, and my wallet, it too, sings.
(SDG 12)
From bikes, to bakeries, across the land and the sea,
My year abroad will be mindful — the future isn’t just for me.
1. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/
2. https://smartcitysweden.com/best-practice/368/sustainable-public-transport-in-stockholm/
3. https://www.toogoodtogo.com
4. https://www.fritidsbanken.se/en/
5. https://www.naturkartan.se/en
6. https://www.ecosia.org
