Intro –
I am currently partaking in an International Summer Programme in Ensenada for 2 weeks. During my experience I have learnt so much about Mexico and Ensenada specially which is a coastal city that’s main export is seafood. The culture here has a passion for sustainable fishing and production of high quality seafood which inspires me as a student from England, since my country is also known for production of seafood (namely fish and chips). In this essay I will be outlining the social and cultural aspects of sustainability in this respect and how it inspires me to consider ways the UK could implement sustainability by takin inspiration from Mexico.
Transit & Environmental Impact –
A fact more should be aware of is that transport is responsible for around 3% of global CO2 emissions. When cities like Ensenada opt for lower impact transit for export and trade such as ships compared to planes, it creates a strong positive environmental impact. The UK could implement more programs and legislation that encourage sustainability in this respect, like Mexico’s 2026-2030 Special Climate Change Program, in order to create a stronger culture that is more conscious of the implications of climate change and our global contributions through trade.
Aligning with the UN SDGs –
Mexico is big on sourcing local products and short supply chains to not only ensure quality and freshness of produce, but also to keep the country’s economy internal. The UK could implement regulations to support local markets and provide fresh produce to major supermarkets such as Asda and Tesco. During my experience here, I have signed up to partake in activities with indigenous communities here, to inspire my sustainability and regenerative mindset and hopefully bring my ideas back to the UK upon my return.
Community Development & Cultural Integrity –
This experience has drastically shifted the mass consumption mindset that I developed, to slow conscious consumption. The relaxed pace ambience of Ensenada has inspired me to really take in the beauty of the country, the landscape, the people, the streets, the music. It has helped me notice the beauty of the UK also, the greenery of our countryside in particular since a lot of Mexico is the desert.
Overall this summer placement has provided me with immense insight in sustainability and inspired me to support their Sustainable Support Strategy 2030. I am great inspired to apply what I’ve learnt to my own country when I return, it has been an incredible experience.
