My laptop is covered in stickers—cities, ideas, moments. But one stands out: a simple green square with the number 15 and the words Life on Land. It’s not decorative; it’s a quiet constraint. A reminder that how I move through the world matters just as much as where I go.
Travel carries a built-in contradiction. It expands perspective while often straining the environments and communities we’re drawn to. Studying abroad in London brings that tension into focus. The UK has made meaningful progress toward climate targets, yet London also faces congestion, high consumption, and the pressures of global tourism. Rather than ignore that, I see it as a design problem: how can I make my experience additive, not extractive?
The UN Sustainable Development Goals give that question structure. I anchor my approach in three: SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 15 (Life on Land)—the idea behind the sticker.
Before leaving, I’ve already begun shifting from convenience to intention. I rely on secondhand marketplaces instead of fast fashion, repair items rather than replace them, and use carbon-tracking tools as a feedback loop for my habits. These aren’t perfect solutions, but they force awareness—turning sustainability into something measurable.
At LSE, I plan to build on this in three ways:
1. Fewer, deeper journeys (SDG 13)
Instead of treating Europe as a checklist, I’ll prioritize longer stays and fewer trips. When I do travel, I’ll favor trains over short-haul flights using platforms like Trainline and Omio. This reduces emissions per trip and shifts travel from speed to depth.
2. Making London the destination (SDG 11 & 12)
Sustainability isn’t just about where I go—it’s about how I live daily. I’ll rely on public transit, walking, and cycling (using Citymapper), support local markets over global chains, and explore London’s green spaces. For consumption, I’ll use tools like Too Good To Go to reduce food waste and Refill to avoid single-use plastics, while keeping a mostly plant-forward diet.
3. Sharing the process, not just the outcome
Sustainability spreads socially. I plan to document my choices—what works, what doesn’t, and the trade-offs in between. I’ll share comparisons (train vs. flight time and emissions), highlight accessible tools, and be transparent about imperfections. The goal is to make sustainable travel feel practical, not idealized.
What I’ve learned is that eco-friendly travel isn’t defined by one decision—it’s cumulative. It’s the slower route, the local purchase, the decision to stay longer instead of go farther.
That green Life on Land sticker isn’t about distant ecosystems. It’s about daily accountability. At LSE, in one of the world’s most connected cities, I want to test what it means to carry that responsibility seriously—and show others that sustainable travel isn’t about doing everything perfectly, but about choosing differently, consistently.
