Two weeks ago, the city where I am studying at resembled a dystopia. The whole city was empty; everyone stayed at home. Trams could not drive anymore because their tracks have been damaged. What happened? A major heatwave. Temperatures reached new records in Germany and other countries in the whole of Europe. In Leipzig were about 40°C which is way too hot and not normal in June and Germany. I am convinced that major heatwave is our fault; it is made by people and our planet is suffering. And that is when I thought that I will have to be more active in climate protection and environmental care. A first step is focussing on sustainability. Everyone can do something and even when it is just the smallest act – it is still an act of kindness towards our environment.
I intend to make conscious choices which support eco-friendly travel and I want to start with my semester abroad at the University of Bristol. Therefore, I am taking the train from Leipzig to Bristol, over the span of two days. I am only taking the plane if there is no other possibility, for example when I am visiting family in Cyprus or in the United States. But the UK is easily reachable with the Eurostar which is definitely an opportunity I want to take. I have friends who are also doing their semester abroad in the UK but also in France and Spain. I want to encourage them to take the train rather than the plane, if it is possible for them because spreading awareness for sustainable travel can be helpful too. Then, I will use public transport in Bristol or take the bike instead of renting a car for example.
Furthermore, sustainability and travelling also means supporting the people and culture of the place that I am going to visit. Which means that I want to buy from local businesses and choose locally produced food, where possible. I also want to avoid unnecessary waste and single-use plastic by carrying a reusable water bottle, coffee cup and shopping bag with me.
These ideas and actions align with several of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and Goal 13 (Climate Action). Even though it seems small, if every person would include such small actions in their life, it would have a remarkable greater positive impact on our environment. Every effort, every train ride, every reusable water bottle contributes to a more sustainable future.
Sustainable travel encourages me to appreciate the places I visit without compromising their beauty or resources for others. Through thoughtful decisions and respect for the environment, I hope my international placement will not only enrich my own experiences but also demonstrate that meaningful travel and environmental responsibility can be perfectly combined. In that way I hope that further major heatwaves can be prevented.
