Growing up, I would hear about the impending doom of climate change, and I often saw this issue brushed off by adults in my community. Now that I’m older and have more autonomy over my life, I have a duty to my future, as well as to the future of humanity, to contribute to climate action efforts. The UN Sustainable Development Goals brought together nations and identified a need to combat several issues, such as poverty, inequality, and most of all, to protect the planet. When it comes to travel, there are various ways in which it’s deemed unsustainable, such as environmentally destructive transportation, overconsumption, and overtourism. Not only do I want to identify these issues, but I would like to address them in my semester abroad this fall in Glasgow, Scotland.
Environmentally destructive transportation can manifest in many different ways, such as air travel, buses, and cars. All these avenues of transportation overconsume a valued resource, fossil fuels. During my semester abroad, I will utilize other avenues of transportation like walking, biking, ferries, and trains to support the sustainable approach to transportation.
Additionally, overconsumption is a rising issue, especially in my country, the United States. Trends ebb and flow, and with every new trend, consumption rises; however, overconsumption builds waste that pollutes the planet. To combat this issue, I plan to use reusable bags and water bottles, pack light when going on trips with clothes already in my closet, and support local restaurants and markets. If I’m going to consume, it will be somewhere that puts money into the local people of Scotland and not big corporations. One app that addresses overconsumption is Too Good To Go (https://www.toogoodtogo.com/en-us). Restaurants can take the food that didn’t sell at the end of their working day and sell the items on the app for a reduced price. This app will allow me to still take part in take-out options through the semester without overconsuming.
Another travel sustainability issue is overtourism, especially in Scotland. Overtourism takes place in locations like the Isle of Skye, Glencoe, Ben Nevis, etc., which can have adverse effects on the natural environment, like erosion, landslide risks, and overall a disruption of wildlife behaviors. While abroad, I will take advantage of websites like Green Tourism (https://www.green-tourism.com/) and Visit Scotland (https://www.visitscotland.com/travel-planning/responsible-tourism) that give recommendations to sustainable hotels, restaurants, and less tourist-heavy attractions. Using these apps while I’m abroad will still give me the full experience of Scottish culture without damaging its environment.
It’s important to see the world and to become culturally aware; however, we must not gain knowledge at the expense of the environment we love so much. I will use my time abroad in Scotland wisely and make a conscious effort to live sustainably for the betterment of our environment.
