International travel is an incredible privilege, but it carries a heavy environmental footprint that we cannot ignore. For Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Saint Lucia, the influx of international students and tourists brings vital economic support but puts immense strain on local ecosystems. As an ecocentric advocate and aspiring environmental lawyer, I believe we must approach travel not as passive consumers but with the same rigour and ethical responsibility we bring to our legal training.
My commitment to ensuring my (June 2026) placement in Saint Lucia was sustainable was rooted in practical action aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Having studied Environmental Law in my LLB degree, I was already hyper-aware of how policy choices dictate ecological stability. I wanted to ensure my actions on the ground reflected the legal principles I advocate for in the classroom.
To achieve this, I broke my sustainability approach down into practical measures:
Firstly, to support SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), I intentionally bypassed corporate chains to support a locally owned, eco-certified accommodation provider in Gros Islet, whose energy conservation and environmental goals aligned with my ethics. Keeping my financial footprint within the local economy helped fund Saint Lucia’s community-led sustainable infrastructure rather than causing economic leakage.
Secondly, regarding physical mobility, I chose direct flights to minimise carbon emissions and strictly relied on Saint Lucia’s local public transit networks instead of hiring private, emission-heavy transport. This step reduced my environmental impact while allowing me to experience the journey and the beautiful island authentically.
Thirdly, during my time with the Caribbean Elective programme in June 2026, I directly integrated my advocacy skills into regional policy projects and public sector initiatives. I spent the month analysing systemic challenges within a developing common law jurisdiction, observing how local institutions implement environmental protections. This highlighted how Commonwealth nations like Saint Lucia can successfully adopt shared legal frameworks, drawing on common law principles and collective initiatives like the Commonwealth Blue Charter, to strengthen domestic environmental laws against global climate threats. At the end of my internship, I gave a presentation to politicians in the Saint Lucian Parliament (lower chambers) about my ideas of a sustainable future.
Upon reflection, this experience did more than just teach me about eco-friendly travel; it solidified my professional aspirations and identity. Witnessing how climate change directly threatens coastal communities in Saint Lucia has further solidified my aspiration of becoming an international environmental law barrister. I intend to bring these insights back to the English and Welsh bars, as well as the international landscape, specialising in a practice area where I can challenge inadequate regulatory frameworks. Ultimately, legal advocacy and environmental stewardship must go hand in hand if we are to protect vulnerable jurisdictions across the Commonwealth, and this internship has fuelled my determination to be at the forefront of that change. Thus, I am currently sharing my findings by drafting a reflective piece for the Environmental Law Association on the intersection of the Commonwealth nations and the UN SDGs.
