Climate change is well underway on our planet, but despite its detrimental effects being well known, we are yet to see major improvement.
The devastation of the LA wildfires earlier this year ravaged news headlines, as homes, landscapes and lives were destroyed. BBC news linked this to a climate ‘whiplash’, in which “rapid swings” between conditions left mass amounts of dry vegetation to ignite (1). Now having the life-changing opportunity to study in California, I plan to make a conscious effort to do so sustainably.
Whilst much of the content I include will be specific to Berkeley, I encourage you to look for similar ways to reduce your environmental impact while studying abroad!
There are many ways you can reduce your impact on the environment at Berkeley. Firstly, there is the misconception that one must own a car to get around. The simplest way to get around this? Walk! Whether strutting to some music or having a relaxing stroll taking in the beautiful surroundings of California, there is no better way to travel sustainably than by using your own two legs. My next recommendation is to cycle! There are plenty of accessible resources across San Francisco, such as Sports Basement Berkeley Bike Rentals, or the bike-share program called Bay Wheels, in which you can use your student clipper card to unlock a bike and return it to any docking station (2). Cycling is a great way of getting around while reducing your environmental impact. If neither of these options are possible, use the readily available public transport network around San Francisco such as the BART, buses and Muni, even carshare with your pals to reduce carbon emissions. There is always a way to travel more sustainably, if you are conscious about the decisions you make.
Besides travelling, lifestyle changes you make can impact your carbon footprint whilst studying abroad. The UN Sustainable Development plan seeks to reduce impacts on the environment by making cities more sustainable. One of my favourite examples of how sustainable living is being promoted in California is the Support and Feed campaign. Founded by Maggie Baird, Support and Feed is an organization dedicated to combatting the climate crisis and food insecurity by working toward a global shift to an equitable, plant-based food system. I had the pleasure of talking to Maggie about the organization back in 2021, and since then have made a conscious effort to eat a plant-based diet and will continue to do so when in the US. Some of my favourite food spots I have researched so far are Tane Vegan Izakaya and Fava (3), and I can’t wait to try these out once I arrive!
You can donate to Support and Feed through the link below to continue supporting the climate crisis and keep updated on the wonderful work they are doing (4). Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope I have influenced you to live more sustainably once abroad!
1-(https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0ewe4p9128o#:~:text=Climate%20change%20has%20made%20the,dryness%20and%20warmth%20that%20followed.%22)
2-https://berkeleyca.gov/city-services/getting-around/shared-bikes-and-scooters, https://shop.sportsbasement.com/collections/berkeley-bike-rentals
3-https://taneveganizakayaca.com/, https://www.favaonvine.com/
4-https://supportandfeed.org/
