To: The Fossil Fuel Economy
We’ve had a long run, but my relocation to Brussels has made me realise we must part ways. You were the catalyst for global industrialisation, but today you are an inhibitor to our survival. As a passionate hiker who finds peace in nature, watching your carbon dioxide emissions systematically damage the ecosystems and wildlife I care so much about made one thing abundantly clear: my future cannot include you.
When it came time to relocate for my six-month placement, I refused to let you power my journey. By taking the Eurostar from the UK to Belgium instead of flying, I drastically slashed my travel emissions. Using the EcoPassenger website, I discovered that flying would have pumped 140 kg of CO2 into the atmosphere on your behalf, compared to just 50.6 kg by train, making the choice to leave you behind a no brainer.
Because Belgium is a major transport hub at the heart of Europe, your grip on its logistics sector heavily suffocates the region’s air. To ensure my time here doesn’t contribute to your pollution, I have completely disconnected my daily commute from your grid. I use SNCB electric trains to get to work and back, and I use the Voi app to grab an electric bike for getting around Brussels (UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities). You no longer get to dictate how I move through my host city.
But my dedication to ending your reign goes far beyond how I travel to work. It’s the core of what I do at work. During my engineering placement, I am contributing to the development of sustainable and affordable hydrogen technology for transport and energy that will soon replace you entirely (UN SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy). We are swapping your finite, dirty reserves for the most abundant element in the universe (UN SDG 13: Climate Action). In our bright future without you, the only exhaust from our vehicles will be pure water. No smog, no guilt.
I love travelling on weekends to explore new places, but I refuse to do it on your terms. To organise these weekend trips sustainably, I consult the Ecobnb travel guide for Belgium to plan low impact itineraries, and I use Ecosia as my primary search engine. Every search I make helps plant trees, actively capturing the carbon pollution you’ve spent decades pumping into our atmosphere.
You were once a necessary stepping stone for human progress, but you have overstayed your welcome. You are now harming us. Through the constant effort of those of us working on green technologies, our vision will soon pay off. Very shortly, all our communities and cities will be powered by clean energy, and we won’t ever have to see you again.
See you never,
An eco-chemical engineering student
References:
1. https://ecopassenger.org/bin/query.exe/en?L=vs_uic
2. https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/
3. https://www.voi.com/city/brussels
4. https://ecobnb.com/blog/2024/11/visit-belgium-sustainable-travel-guide/
5. https://www.ecosia.org/
