For me, sustainable travel is not just about reaching destination with lower emissions, it is about understanding how movement shapes cities, communities, and our future. This June, I will travel to Amsterdam for a sustainability-focused placement organised by my Home Institution University of Westminster in collaboration with Pagoda Projects. As a Sustainable Business Management student, I see this experience as more than academic opportunity – it is a chance to learn directly from professionals working to create more sustainable systems and bring those ideas into my future career.
What excites me most about this trip is that sustainability begins before I even arrive. Instead of flying, we are choosing to travel by train. Travelling across Europe by rail is one of the simplest ways to reduce environmental impact, and it reflects a principle I apply whenever I travel. If a lower-carbon option is available, I want to take it.
Living and studying in the UK has shown me how public transport, cycling infrastructure, and walkable cities can make sustainable choices easy. At home in London, despite excellent underground connections and electric buses, I bought a second-hand bicycle because cycling is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel and has become part of my everyday routine.
However, my exchange semester in Canada taught me a different lesson. There, I experiences how difficult sustainable travel becomes when infrastructure is limited. Daily life often depended on cars because alternatives are simply were not accessible. This contrast changed my perspective. Sustainability is not only about individual choices, it is also about creating systems that enable sustainable choices.
This understanding aligns closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. My experiences align particularly with Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, especially with Target 11.2, which focuses on providing safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all. It also connects with Goal 9, which encourages resilient infrastructure and innovation. Sustainable transport systems are not just environmental solutions, they create more inclusive, connected, and healthier communities.
In my upcoming academic year, I will learn more about sustainable tourism, travel, and urban planning – topics that will help me understand how cities can become more people-centred and less dependent on high-emission transport systems. My trip to Amsterdam is not simply about visiting another city – it is about learning how movement, infrastructure, and everyday choices can contribute to a cleaner future.
