From: Gracelyn in 2024
To: Gracelyn in 2026
Hey Gracelyn,
By the time you read this, you’ll probably be a rising third-year student preparing for exchange. Knowing you, you’ve already planned 20 trips, bookmarked 50 cafés, and convinced yourself that you can somehow see all of Europe in 9 months.
I hope you’re excited. I know I am.
But before you get carried away planning your adventures, let this letter remind you of something we learnt back in 2024: travelling the world is a privilege, and with that privilege comes responsibility.
Remember that sustainability class? The one where we learnt that sustainability means meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs[1]? Back then, it felt like another definition to memorise. Now that you’re about to live and travel overseas, it feels so much more real.
As you explore new places, remember that every choice you make has an impact. Here are 4 simple ways to travel more sustainably:
– Minimise food waste: Buy only what you can finish. Food waste is not just about the food that’s being wasted but also the water, energy, labour and resources used to produce it[2]. If you have leftovers, save them for another meal or share excess food with friends.
– Travel green: Choose trains, buses, walking or cycling whenever possible. Not only will you reduce your carbon footprint, but you’ll also experience places more authentically than you ever could from the window of a taxi [3].
– Use reusables: Carry a reusable water bottle, tote bag and food container – perhaps your favourite pink ones that Mom got you. Small habits can significantly reduce single-use plastic waste and help protect the natural environments you hope to visit.The oceans and natural environments you’ll be visiting deserve more than just being a destination for discarded plastic[4].
– Support local: Sustainable travel isn’t just about reducing harm; it’s also about creating positive impact. Supporting local businesses, avoid buying items with excessive packaging, and go thrifting whenever you can[5]. By doing so, you support local communities by keeping people employed and circulating money back into communities while reducing the environmental impact incurred by mass-produced goods and long supply chains.
These small actions contribute towards several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), Goal 13 (Climate Action) and Goal 14 (Life Below Water). More importantly, they reflect the kind of traveller and person which you aspire to be.
I hope you have an adventure of a lifetime. Make new friends. Get lost occasionally. Take too many photos. Say yes to experiences that scare you a little.
Just remember to leave every place a little better than you found it.
Enjoy, future Gracelyn.
Love,
Younger 2024 Gracelyn
References
[1] https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/sustainability
[2] https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-food-waste-day
[3] https://globalgoals.org/goals/13-climate-action/
[4] https://globalgoals.org/goals/14-life-below-water/
[5] https://globalgoals.org/goals/12-responsible-consumption-and-production/
