When people talk about studying abroad, they often describe it as “broadening horizons.” What we mention less often is the environmental cost of physically crossing those horizons.
As I prepare for my exchange semester at University of Leeds, I have been reflecting on this contradiction constantly. My journey from China to the UK will connect two countries, two cultures, and two very different approaches to sustainable living. At the same time, it will also leave a carbon footprint thousands of miles long. To me, sustainability does not begin with pretending this contradiction does not exist. It begins with learning to travel more consciously within it.
Growing up in China, I experienced sustainability through large-scale public infrastructure. High-speed railways, metros, shared bicycles, and digital transport systems are deeply integrated into everyday life. Many people choose public transportation not necessarily because it is “environmentally friendly,” but because it is simply the most efficient and practical way to live in densely populated cities.
The UK, however, represents another perspective that I am eager to learn from. Cities like Leeds place greater emphasis on local communities, walkability, second-hand culture, and balancing urban life with environmental preservation. I hope my exchange experience will help me better understand how sustainability can also be shaped through slower lifestyles, community habits, and individual responsibility.
Because I stand between these two cultural experiences, I have started to realise that sustainability is not only a technological issue, but also a cultural one. Different societies shape different attitudes toward speed, convenience, consumption, and public space. International exchange offers a rare opportunity to learn from those differences rather than simply observe them.
During my placement, I intend to minimise unnecessary flights and prioritise rail and public transportation whenever possible. Instead of treating exchange as a checklist of European destinations, I hope to travel more slowly and locally by spending time exploring Yorkshire’s communities, museums, landscapes, and history. I also plan to reduce single-use plastics, purchase second-hand winter clothing and household items where possible, and maintain more conscious daily consumption habits.
These choices align closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). What inspires me about these goals is that they frame sustainability not as sacrifice, but as redesign: redesigning the way we move, consume, and coexist.
I do not believe sustainability requires perfection. An international exchange programme will inevitably consume resources, and I cannot deny that reality. However, I believe there is value in approaching global mobility with humility and responsibility rather than entitlement.
For me, traveling from China to Britain is more than an academic journey. It is an opportunity to learn how to move through the world more thoughtfully, lightly, and respectfully, while carrying ideas between cultures rather than simply crossing borders.
