Dear Future Me,
I hope you have had an amazing year! I hope you’ve travelled around and seen all the beautiful sites around Europe. I hope you have made amazing friends and had the most fantastic year, but I also hope you have done this with thought for the world and the impact you leave on it.
While travel is such an amazing way to see the world, seeing different cultures and points of view, doing it sustainably is so important. Europe is connected by so many train routes, while it might take longer than a flight, it can reduce carbon emissions by over 80%, you could even take a night train (1,2). A small inconvenience for such a big impact.
I bet you’re so good on a bike now! The Netherlands, Land of the Bike! They’re everywhere, and such a sustainable way to travel, compared to cars(2). You probably used them all the time to get around, to and from lectures, the city centre, and just to see the area.
Did you carry reusable bags when you went out in case of impromptu shopping? And reusable water bottles? They only reduce plastic waste and carbon emissions if you actually use them(3), and as an added bonus, it saves you money!
How was your room? I can’t wait to see how you decorated! I bet you found some cool second-hand decor, or made something to make it feel homely. And you probably got some cool new clothes. Were they from local shops? A second-hand shop? Oh maybe some vintage stuff(4)! You HAVE to let me know where to look!
And how was the studying? Did you use second-hand textbooks? Not only are they going to be cheaper, but they also create less waste, and then pass them on to the next year once you were done? Continuing the cycle!
Did you use AI? You know how harmful it is, it requires so much clean water, and energy that comes from fossil fuels(5), which means there is less clean drinking water available for humans.
I’ve seen that Radboud University position themselves as a green campus, with initiatives to increase sustainability and promote responsible consumption and production(6). Did you find out more about these initiatives, participate and attend events that they did? Sustainable living is an active decision you have to make every day to reduce the harm you are doing. I bet it was how you made some friends, its always easier with some friends.
I know you already do a lot of this: you limit your use of single-use items, you have lower plastic alternatives, you eat less meat, but I just wanted to check in and make sure, with how busy and fun the year has been, that the environment didn’t get pushed to the side. Being sustainable doesn’t have to limit you!
I can’t wait to see what you did,
Lots of love,
Past you xx
1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1361920920305654
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1361920921000687
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001393512502465X
4. https://www.trvst.world/sustainable-living/10-reasons-why-you-should-buy-second-hand/
5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950138525000178
6. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950138525000178
