The streets of London in the spring of 2027 felt like the start line of a monumental marathon. Studying abroad is typically presented as a quest for personal discovery, but for me, crossing eight different borders outside the United Kingdom revealed a deeper perspective. Travel is not only a means of adding stamps to one’s passport but also an incredible process of practicing global citizenship and contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A conflict arises between the urge to see the world and the responsibility to preserve it. How can sustainability become more than a buzzword? While studying abroad, I approached every city that I visited as an opportunity to contribute to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. The temptation to indulge in tourist clichés such as disposable plastic and fast food is immense, but the journey of sustainable living becomes increasingly enjoyable.
One of the key things that made a significant difference was the choice of what fueled me throughout my travels. I made sure not to visit many of the global fast-food restaurants that require long-distance transportation with high carbon emissions but rather found myself visiting the local farmer’s markets. Visiting various markets across Europe offering fresh, seasonal produce helped reduce my carbon footprint and provided support to the local community at the same time. Opting for an irregularly shaped fruit from a local farmer over an imported snack wrapped in plastic contributed significantly to my efforts in sustainability.
In order to keep my international experience as sustainable as possible, there were three major elements I needed to consider:
Low Carbon Transport: Wherever feasible, I preferred long-distance trains to budget air travel. This mode of transport has a low carbon impact per person and also gives a slow-moving perspective that is difficult to get on an airplane.
“Leave No Trace” Philosophy: Not only did this include waste management, but it also meant making sure that we stayed in eco-accredited hotels, using water and energy responsibly in hostels and rental accommodations, and realizing that in tourist-heavy destinations, resources may be stretched (Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities).
Empowering Local Microeconomies: Travel and sustainability are as much about people as they are about the environment. I made sure that wherever I went, my travel dollars went back into the local economy by buying from street vendors and markets.
Upon reflection, I understand that the real luxury of traveling is not about covering distances but building connections. The secret of a sustainable international placement lies in conducting an “audit” of our practices. What it means is that we have to opt for the difficult path, which is the ethical one. If we choose the train, the cloth bag, and the street market, we will make sure that the charm of the places visited by us lasts for the future generations of students. Our planet Earth is a common classroom, whose most valuable lesson is appreciation.
