As I prepare for my year abroad in the Netherlands, sustainability in practice is a core consideration, particularly in how I plan on travelling to university. The Netherlands is widely recognised for its eco-friendly values, and its strong contribution to sustainability, primarily through public transportation, electric vehicle infrastructure, reducing carbon emissions, and most crucially, cycling. As a student of Politics and International Relations at Leicester, I’ve learned that travel and sustainability are fundamental factors that shape the future of our carbon footprint. Notably, I changed my routine, by minimising Ubers and walking to the town centre, a journey of around 45 minutes. In researching my year abroad destination, I discovered that Dutch citizens and even tourists rarely use a car as their primary form of transportation, rather their cycling culture naturally aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). By promoting these eco-friendly values, I look forward to embedding cycling in my daily routine, offering a reliable, on-time alternative to often delayed trains or Ubers. Naturally, I already cycle to the gym at home, thus by adopting a bike as my main form of transport in the Netherlands, this will contribute to easing my travels and sustainability. When undertaking responsibly, travel has the potential to serve as a catalyst for positive change, interconnecting intercultural understanding and contributing to the advancement of global objectives. However, it is important to recognise and minimise environmental consequences with international mobility. Therefore, I aim to make my year abroad not only as a meaningful impact to my academic journey, but also a change to sustainability goals.
I believe that minimising carbon emissions is possible wherever you travel to, particularly in the heart of Europe. Travelling in Europe in the past has not only taught me the values of local cultures and traditions, but also deepened my understanding of sustainable living through firsthand exposure to efficient public transport, eco-conscious communities, and environmentally responsible practices. Wherever I plan to go, I intend to make sustainable travel a top priority, ensuring that my journeys align with the environmental values of my chosen destination. For example, when undertaking my year abroad to the Netherlands, I plan on taking the high-speed Eurostar train, where statistically it emits up to 90% less CO₂ per passenger than flying the same route, reflecting SDG 13 climate goals (Eurostar, 2023). Despite a longer journey via train, short-haul flights generally damage sustainability purposes due to takeoff and landing. Beyond the UN’s SDG in transportation, I will continue to contribute to a cleaner eco-friendly environment by using reusable items to hinder waste, and shop locally to support SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Building on the sustainability initiatives I’ve engaged with at my current university, I intend to further immerse myself in these practices at my host university, with a particular focus on learning from the Dutch model of urban planning and environmental responsibility.
Eurostar Sustainability Report (2023):
https://cdn.sanity.io/files/1wyn2xo2/cms-production/ec5fb53dc1263452373b5d379a3b812963661f50.pdf
