I was born in India and built a life in the UK. So when I received the opportunity to intern at T-Hub in Hyderabad — one of Asia’s largest startup ecosystems — it did not feel like a departure. It felt like a return with new eyes.
But before I could think about what I would contribute professionally, I had to ask myself an honest question: what would this journey cost the planet, and how was I prepared to answer for it?
Long-haul travel carries an environmental weight easy to overlook in the excitement of a new opportunity. A return flight between London and Hyderabad produces roughly 1.5 to 2 tonnes of CO₂ per passenger — a figure that does not sit comfortably alongside UN SDG 13 on climate action. I cannot pretend that away. What I can do is be deliberate about everything surrounding it.
My approach has been shaped by the spirit of SDG 17 — partnerships for the goals. Sustainability is not a solo act. It is choices made in relation to others, to systems, and to the communities we pass through. Practically, I committed to offsetting my flight emissions through a verified carbon programme using the Gold Standard registry (www.goldstandard.org). I chose accommodation close to T-Hub’s HITEC City campus to cut daily commuting, relying instead on walking and Hyderabad Metro Rail — one of India’s most energy-efficient urban transit systems. I packed light and chose a reusable kit to avoid single-use plastic while abroad.
But sustainability abroad is not only about carbon. It is about being a responsible guest. I committed to eating locally — supporting small businesses and cutting food-miles — and to learning enough Telugu to navigate without defaulting to tourist infrastructure. This connects to SDG 11 (sustainable cities) and SDG 12 (responsible consumption). Money spent thoughtfully in local economies does more than money funnelled through global chains.
At T-Hub, I intend to bring this lens into my work. As a Computer Science student with an operations background, I can contribute to digital solutions that reduce waste and inefficiency — which is itself sustainability. Technology built thoughtfully and deployed at scale reduces the need for physical resource consumption.
I also believe coming back changed is part of the picture. Knowledge I bring home — about circular economy models from Indian startups, about governance in a rapidly urbanising city — will shape how I work for years. That multiplier effect is, quietly, the most sustainable thing about international experience.
I left India once to seek opportunity. I return to contribute to it — with both feet on the ground.
