Coming from two legal systems, one lived in Pakistan and one studied in the United Kingdom, I realised these two systems share something more than the courtroom vocabulary and case citations; a deeply unequal relationship with the consequences of climate change. Pakistan is responsible for less than one percent of global carbon emissions, still it ranks among the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate disasters. The floods of 2022 submerged ⅓ of the country.
This summer, I will travel to Cologne, Germany for a European Law Summer School at the CBS International Business School. My first extended stay in Europe and I have thought carefully about how to make this journey as sustainable as possible.
The most significant decision I already have made is how to reach Cologne from London. Flying from Cologne to London takes almost an hour and thirty minutes in the air, it emits averagely around five times more CO2 per passenger kilometre than the equivalent train journey, and when the non-CO2 atmospheric effects of burning aviation fuel at altitude are included, the warming impact is estimated to be two to three times higher. Instead I will be using Eurostar, although it is expensive and will take more time, it is still the right choice that directly reflects the sustainable travel commitment.
Germany has given meaningful context for thinking about sustainability. Cologne in particular has used the UN’s 2030 Agenda directly into its urban strategy through its Cologne Perspectives 2030+ framework, working towards European Zero Waste Programme certification alongside active programmes on biodiversity and urban food sovereignty. At the national level, Germany is actively navigating the tension between economic development, legal architecture, and environmental responsibility.
The three Sustainable Development Goals SDG set by the UN which are the most relevant to sustainable travel are SDG 13 climate change, SDG 11 sustainable cities and SDG 10 reduced inequalities. Climate change does not affect everyone equally because the ones who contribute the least are the ones who suffer the most. It is also important to acknowledge that the students travelling abroad for studies tend to have a larger carbon footprint than most. Recognising this is the first step towards doing something about sustainability.
While travelling in Cologne, I will use the Deutschlandticket for travelling. Similarly, I will eat locally, carry reusable things and avoid purchasing things which are not necessary. Likewise, I also run an Instagram page where I post law focused content; I will use that page to share sustainability related content to spread awareness so more people can contribute towards sustainability.
Growing up between Lahore and London has given me a particular relationship with the phrase ‘global resident’. It can mean very little or it can mean a genuine reckoning with who actually bears the cost of climate change. I want to mean the second.
References:
ourworldindata.org
nachhaltigkeit.deutschebahn.com
sdgs.un.org
location.cologne-tourism.com
ecopassenger.org
