Studying abroad inevitably involves air travel, but to me, sustainability is about making conscious choices wherever possible to reduce my environmental impact. While I cannot avoid flying to Spain and Argentina, I can ensure that the decisions I make throughout my year abroad are as environmentally responsible as possible.
During my first semester as an Erasmus student in Zaragoza, I plan to rely on the city’s excellent public transport network of buses and trams, as well as walking whenever possible. I will use the Moovit app (https://moovitapp.com) to plan journeys efficiently and the Bizi App (https://bizi.zaragoza.es/es/app) to check the availability of public bicycles, helping me make the most of public transport. If I travel to visit friends in other parts of Spain or Europe, I intend to book trains through Renfe (https://www.renfe.com/es/es) instead of taking domestic flights. These choices support UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities (https://sdgs.un.org/goals) by promoting more sustainable forms of transport.
Living sustainably is equally important. Although utility bills are included in my shared accommodation, I will still be mindful of my energy and water consumption by only using what I need. Having previously lived in Spain during my gap year as an au pair, I also appreciate the country’s community recycling system, with colour-coded street bins that encourage everyone to take responsibility for waste. I look forward to taking part in this again and to using the Zaragozapp (https://zaragoza.es/sede/portal/zaragozapp/) and the Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza website (https://www.zaragoza.es/sede/portal/medioambiente/residuos/) to learn about local recycling facilities and waste collection, helping me recycle correctly throughout my stay.
Another simple but effective change is avoiding single-use plastics. As I know the tap water in Spain is safe to drink, I will bring a reusable water bottle instead of regularly buying bottled water. In both Spain and Argentina, I also plan to support local businesses by buying locally produced food and shopping independently whenever possible. Not only does this reduce environmental impacts, but it also benefits local communities. These actions align with UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
One of the aspects of my year abroad that I am most excited about is immersing myself in local communities. In Argentina, I will be living with host families, allowing me to experience everyday life while sharing household resources more efficiently than if I lived alone. I also will be volunteering in local schools teaching English, using resources from the British Council’s LearnEnglish website (https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org) to create engaging lessons. This contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education, Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, and Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals, by promoting educational opportunities, cultural exchange and international collaboration.
Although my year abroad begins with an unavoidable flight, I believe sustainability is defined by the choices we make every day. By travelling responsibly, reducing waste, supporting local communities and giving back through volunteering, I hope to ensure that my international placement is as sustainable as possible while making a positive contribution to the places I will call home.
