Dear Carbon Footprint,
I know that as I embark on this journey to Bristol, you’re coming with me.
You will board the plane beside me in seat 34D from Washington, D.C., and land with me in England. You are the unavoidable companion of this international education experience. The invisible passenger whose ticket I never purchased but whose presence I cannot deny.
I cannot pretend that crossing an ocean is sustainable, but if I am going to make this journey, I want to do so as responsibly as possible. So this is how I intend to keep you—my carbon footprint—as small as possible.
My alarm rings at 7:30 a.m. and the gentle Bristol breeze drifts through the window of my room at the top of Clifton Hill. On a typical morning back home, I would probably have slept in and caught an Uber to class, making a strategic stop for an egg muffin from Starbucks along the way. This time, things are different. I wake up early enough to make my favourite breakfast, eggs and avocado on toast and enjoy the walk through Bristol to class, a city whose commitment to sustainability I am eager to experience for myself.
Before leaving my accommodation, I fill my reusable water bottle and slip a tote bag into my backpack. Rather than buying plastic bottles every day, I have challenged myself to use a single reusable bottle throughout my semester abroad. In class, my notes are stored on my laptop rather than on stacks of paper, another small decision that helps reduce unnecessary waste.
After classes, I take the bus to Bristol’s city centre to pick up groceries and explore local markets. The tote bag I packed that morning finally gets put to use, replacing the plastic bags that too often accompany quick shopping trips. I am learning that sustainability is rarely one grand gesture, it is a collection of ordinary decisions repeated every day.
In the evening, my flatmates and I finish packing our suitcases and place them beside the door. Tomorrow morning we leave for Paris, not by plane, but by train. You may have earned your place on my flight across the Atlantic, but you will not be joining me on unnecessary flights across Europe.
These choices support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Responsible Consumption and Production, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Climate Action. Sustainability is not about perfection, it is about taking the first step. Making a commitment.
Growing up in Ghana, there was little emphasis placed on sustainable living or environmental stewardship. I hope the lessons I learn and habits I build in Bristol will travel with me long after my semester ends to the United States, back home to Ghana, and into the communities I will one day serve.
So, dear Carbon Footprint, I know I cannot erase you.
But if you are going to travel with me to Bristol, I intend to ensure that the journey leaves a greater meaning than the emissions it creates.
