The path of student development in both educational and personal aspects entails a lot of unknowns, and last week it was my turn to solve some of them. Should I travel thousands of kilometres to another continent? Should I leave my family and friends during the best time of the year?
But I realised I was being selfish in my decision. Instead of just asking how would attending a summer exchange in Singapore benefits me and what I am leaving behind I must first answer to what extent are my plans are affecting others and more importantly, the environment. For example, on a one-way ticket from my home country to Singapore, I produce according to Carbon Emissions Calculator (ICEC) 1,066 kilograms of carbon dioxide. That is more than the annual United Nations estimations for 2030 to combat climate change.
Here is where the dilemma presents itself, is my desire to go overseas for the summer, creating new experiences, and learning from new cultures and perspectives more important to me than the impact on the planet I am leaving behind due to my trip?
– Maybe they are (spoiler: I decided to attend)
But that doesn’t mean I will neglect my stay in Southeast Asia. Reading the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals showed me that there is no need to feel guilty for the “what” If I can work on the “how”. How can I work to align my aspirations with contributing for a more sustainable planet for everyone?
– This is what I called Sustainable Thinking and Action (STA)
Before taking any action, I will stop for a moment and reflect on the impact it will cause. For this, the following SDGs will drive my STA: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action and Partnership for the Goals.
Some attitudes and initiatives that I will implement are:
– Efficiently using water while showering and doing laundry
– Prioritising eating fresh and unprocessed food
– Learning from Singapore citizens, as one of the most sustainable and environmental responsible societies, how to inspire others toward better daily practices
– Using public transport
– Not flying anywhere else outside Singapore during this period
– Interacting with people from different countries and backgrounds to talk about sustainability solutions
Perhaps the best outcome I will find from this journey of learning and discovering knowledge, both from the course I will attend and the system itself, is experiencing how an international community driven by hope can be so highly developed. And who knows? Maybe I could bring some of these practices back to Ecuador and replicate better methods.
References List
1 Government of Singapore (2026) Singapore Green Plan. 2026. https://www.greenplan.gov.sg/overview/ [Accessed: 11 July 2026].
2 ICEC Carbon Emissions Calculator (2026) Carbon Emissions Calculator.
3 United Nations (2026) THE 17 GOALS. 2026. https://sdgs.un.org/goals [Accessed: 5 July 2026].
