When I accepted my internship in Madrid, I thought the decision I’d have to make was what to pack. But as the move gets closer, I’ve realised the journey doesn’t start at the airport. It starts with the choices I make long before I board the plane.
This summer’s heat across Europe has made sustainability feel more personal to me. It’s no longer something I only hear about on the news. It’s something I’ve experienced. It reminded me that while I can’t solve climate change on my own, I can choose to travel more consciously because meaningful change starts with everyday decisions.
One of those decisions was where to live. Instead of choosing accommodation with the quickest commute, I deliberately found somewhere around a 30 minute walk from my internship at the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain. Walking to work reduces my reliance on transport while experiencing Madrid properly, noticing streets, parks and local cafés I’d probably miss if I rushed everywhere. When the weather is too extreme or walking isn’t practical, Madrid’s Metro offers a reliable, lower carbon alternative. To me, sustainability isn’t about being perfect. It’s about making better choices whenever you can.
Some of the choices I’m most excited about are the smallest ones. My friend and I have planned a weekly tradition of trying a Too Good To Go surprise bag. As interns, it’ll help us stick to a budget, reduce food waste and discover local cafés and bakeries we might otherwise walk straight past. It’s a simple idea, but I think those habits make the biggest difference over time.
My internship has also changed the way I think about sustainability. Working with the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain isn’t only an opportunity to gain professional experience. It’s a chance to see how countries, businesses and people learn from one another. Sustainability isn’t just about individual actions. It’s also about collaboration, sharing ideas and creating partnerships that encourage more responsible ways of working. I hope I’ll come home not only with new skills, but with perspectives I’ll carry into my future career.
That’s why the UN Sustainable Development Goals resonate with me. Goals like Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action and Partnerships for the Goals are no longer abstract ambitions. They’re reflected in everyday choices, from walking to work and supporting local businesses to reducing waste and learning from Spain’s approach to sustainability.
I know my placement won’t change the world. But if every international experience encourages someone to travel more thoughtfully, support local communities more intentionally and return home with ideas worth sharing, those small choices become something much bigger. For me, that’s where sustainable travel really begins.
Useful resources:
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Too Good To Go: https://www.toogoodtogo.com/en-gb
EMT Madrid (Madrid public transport): https://www.emtmadrid.es/Index.aspx?lang=en-GB
BiciMAD (Madrid bike sharing): https://www.bicimad.com/en
