Next year’s placement in Lancaster will mix academic work with a real attempt to live more responsibly. I want to make choices that genuinely reduce my environmental impact, even in small everyday moments. I have been thinking about four areas that feel manageable: how I move around, what I buy, how I engage with the community, and what I throw away.
Lancaster itself helps a lot. The town’s layout and the cycle‑friendly streets make sustainable transport feel less like a chore. By walking or biking, we can also help fight climate change. And when I need to travel a bit farther, taking the train instead of flying for short trips seems sensible. These habits support SDG 11 and SDG 13, but they also make daily life calmer. And because active travel keeps me moving, it goes along with SDG 3 as well.
It is just as important to think of waste as something that can be reused, not just thrown away. By following Lancaster City Council’s recycling schemes, I will contribute to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, ensuring materials are reused instead of wasted. Apps like ‘Too Good To Go’ or ‘ShareWaste’ help reduce food waste, which is a major issue to be tackled. I will also be saving water by putting special devices in the taps and showers, which supports SDG 6 and helps keep our water clean. Meanwhile, the ‘Lancashire Wildlife Trust’ website (https://www.lancswt.org.uk/) has small volunteering opportunities that support SDG 15, such as taking care of green corners.
Supporting the local economy is another goal. Buying from small shops or choosing eco‑friendly products whenever possible feels like a good way to contribute to SDG 8. Academic work will highlight female‑authored books and research, reinforcing SDG 5: Gender Equality. Additionally, we’ll be mindful of our energy use, making sure to use heating, lighting, and appliances in a way that’s more efficient and sustainable, aligning with SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. Tools like JouleBug or even the built‑in energy settings on my laptop or phone help track small habits.
This experience will be more than an academic journey; it will be a lived experiment in sustainability. By making conscious choices about how we get around, what we throw away, what we buy, and how we use energy, we can turn Lancaster into a place where our daily actions match up with the big goals for the world. Each action will be a reminder that sustainability isn’t an abstract idea, but rather something that is reflected in the way we live day to day, and Lancaster feels like a place where learning and environmental care can genuinely go hand in hand.
