“The things of nature do not really belong to us… we should leave them to our children as we have received them.” (Wilde, 1882 https://quoteinvestigator.com/2021/05/03/nature/).
As a student embarking on his exchange programme in London, the quote by Wilde remains pertinent in this age of globalisation. Accordingly, I believe that the privilege of travelling should be accompanied by a duty to do so responsibly. In my opinion, the concept of sustainability is a commitment towards mindfulness and how I engage and support collective global goals. Particularly, I intend to cohere with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and 13 (Climate Action) as they directly relate to the environmental impact of international travel. SDG 12 encourages mindful use as our planet would not have enough resources to sustain current lifestyles with a growing global population. SDG 13 focuses on deterring the negative effects of human activities on climate change such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events which threatens the future of the planet (https://www.un.org/en/exhibits/page/sdgs-17-goals-transform-world).
My commitment to sustainability is supported from my decision to opt for a carrier that advocates for sustainability. As such, I have selected Emirates for my flight as they deploy various carbon offsetting schemes via their participation in the EU, Swiss, and UK Emissions Trading Systems, and their implementation of Green Standard Operating Procedures and Sustainable aviation fuel. While I understand that aviation remains a significant contributor to carbon emissions, I believe that my choice is a small yet deliberate step to sustainability. (https://www.emirates.com/sg/english/about-us/our-planet/reducing-emissions/).
As a student in the UK, I am committed to embrace a sustainable lifestyle beyond the standard eco-conscious habits such as opting for public transport and avoiding single-use plastics. Instead, I wish to also participate in a “green dorm” project where I have indoor plants to improve air quality and provide a vibrant living environment. I believe such a project could be passed on to the next exchange student and I could build a small “legacy of care” (https://iaa.umd.edu/news/green-space-living-space-green-dorm-room-project/). Additionally, I intend to document and reduce my waste to create an informative post to educate future students and encourage them to travel lighter (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATlxs5wqK20). Thus, I trust these choices would embody the ecological responsibility that the Butex scholarship advocates.
Alluding to Wilde’s quote, I strongly believe that sustainable travel is about preserving the essence of our experiences abroad without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same. However, this mindset should extend beyond travelling. Reflecting on my life in Singapore, I noticed that I naturally embody these values by taking the public transport daily and utilising reusables such as totebags and containers whenever I purchase my groceries or takeaway meals. Thus, sustainability is not merely a seasonal performance to me. Instead, it is a lifestyle that guides how I live, and my exchange programme is an extension of this commitment. As such, I am grateful to the Butex scholarship for offering support to students such as myself towards an empowering and responsible educational journey.
