Being eco-friendly is my speciality. No matter where I go, I keep following my tips to be greener. In the morning, I take a short shower and eat local food. When I leave, I don’t forget to switch off the lights and reduce the heating. Then I always get around on foot or by bike, plus it is good for your health, or by public transport. Nowadays, cities are fully served. I take my seal reusable water bottle with me, my eco-friendly fancy touch in my tote bags, and my lunchbox in order not to buy takeout food with all its packaging.
I will still do these same habits when I move to Leeds. I think it will take another dimension in the way that I hope to exchange with students there and share our points of view and habits. I will discover their own way to apprehend climate change and how they act in an eco-friendly way. I am excited to add a few new small actions to my routine to be even greener. I could show them my favourite apps, such as Aworld, which gives you challenges to be eco-friendly and rewards you once you have accomplished one; or Greenly, a useful tool to evaluate your greenhouse gas emissions and help you reduce them. As I see it, awareness-raising is one of the most important steps in our struggle against climate change.
To move in, I will take the train. Eurostar produces only 4 grams of carbon dioxide equivalents per passenger, per kilometer, according to Our World in Data, whereas a diesel car would be 171 grams. Furthermore, trains are for me more than just a means of transport; they are also a different way to explore a country by discovering its landscapes and cities.
During this exchange, I will also buy clothes from second-hand clothes shops. That way, I will buy eco-friendly clothes, and at the same time immerse myself a little more in this new culture, by discovering what people wear or have worn, what kind of clothes they are interested in. As well as discovering local food.
Another point is that I will explore how Leeds adapts to climate change, and what I can learn from it to propose it in my home school.
Climate change is not only about me or us, but it is also about everyone on this earth. Our actions, whether innocent they are, have a huge impact on the climate. Pushing a button to turn on the car can be the first chain of events that may lead to wildfires or heatwaves. They have human and economic consequences. They weaken societies, economic growth, and health.
Everyone can do these kinds of actions. Climate change involves everyone, and everyone has an impact on it. We must understand our agency and react.
And you, what do you do for your future?
