Travel will transform me, but it won’t cost the planet any more than it already has. Like other international students, I have big goals, one of which is to reduce my carbon footprint. I am aware that just my flight will emit more CO₂ than some people generate in a month. I’ve used Gold Standard credits to offset my flight because of this, but I’m not just buying back my carbon. In my opinion, true sustainability occurs in decisions made on a daily basis, much beyond the boarding gate.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the ones that encourage us to live gently wherever we land, will serve as the foundation for my American journey. I’m substituting bus transport and bike lanes for automobile travel in order to achieve SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. The bike-share stations and transit lines in my future city are already marked out. My scheme? When I can, I walk; when I have to, I bike; and get cabs when there is no other choice. The contents of my bags are also influenced by SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. I’m carrying a zero-waste arsenal that includes reusable coffee cups, reusable cutlery, and a metal water bottle. In order to help small producers and reduce food miles, I will try to avoid single-use packaging and shop at local farmers’ markets wherever feasible.
I also want to address food waste, which is one of the most hidden climate dangers facing the United States. In the United States, around 40% of food is never consumed. In order to help gather extra food from cafes or stores and deliver it to individuals in need, I want to volunteer at a nearby food rescue. Good food shouldn’t end up in landfills; it should nourish humans. I’ll join my school sustainability group, help out at clean-ups and tree-planting events, and promote zero-waste practices on campus in order to support SDG 13: Climate Action.
Sharing is essential. To show other students that living sustainably overseas is not only feasible but also effective, economical, and practical, I will share my eco-tips, triumphs, and mistakes online. It will be worth it if my story encourages one more student to forego a single-use cup or take the bus. I don’t want my flying miles to be my greatest legacy when I go. One reusable cup, bus ticket, and saved meal at a time, I want it to serve as evidence that we can travel the world and still preserve it.
Sources:
https://www.goldstandard.org/
https://sdgs.un.org/goals
