Growing up in the Philippines, I watched typhoons tear through infrastructure and displace families year after year, and I watched the systems meant to protect people fail just as consistently. Global warming is not a future threat; it’s already a compounding one. This experience led me to study Quantitative Economics and Environmental Studies at Tufts University, and to lead a wind energy investment research project with the Tufts Capital Research Group. There, I learned that onshore wind costs have fallen by roughly 70% since 2010, making it one of the most affordable energy sources today.
This spring, on a train to Vienna, I looked out the window and saw rows of wind turbines stretching across a field. After spending over 30 hours studying them, encountering them in real life, and while traveling by train rather than plane, clarified how I want to engage with Europe during my study abroad program: intentionally, and with awareness of both impact and context.
Traveling sustainably as someone flying from Asia carries an inherent tension. The long-haul flight from Manila will be the largest carbon cost of my placement. I plan to address this by purchasing Gold Standard-certified carbon offsets that fund renewable energy projects in Southeast Asia. This decision reflects not just carbon accounting, but alignment with SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) – the same principles that shape my academic work and connect directly to my home region.
Within Europe, trains will be my default mode of travel, but I aim to go beyond simply choosing lower-emission options. My research has shown how varied Europe’s energy transitions are, shaped by national policies, subsidy structures, and geopolitical considerations. As I travel, I want to engage with these differences: understanding each country’s environmental commitments, how they are implemented, and what responsible participation looks like as a visitor. This may involve choosing locally owned accommodations, eating seasonal foods, and observing how cities like Vienna or Copenhagen have built sustainable public infrastructure – often in ways that differ from Manila’s current capacities.
In London, I will focus on everyday sustainable choices: prioritizing plant-based meals, using public transport, and cycling or walking where possible. Beyond daily habits, I have chosen to attend events where my academic interests and travel intersect. These include Reset Connect London during Climate Action Week, Global Offshore Wind 2026 in Manchester, ESS Expo in Birmingham, and programming from LSE’s Grantham Research Institute around COP31. Each involves train travel and represents a deliberate effort to engage with ongoing conversations about the future of energy and climate policy.
My placement is an opportunity to understand how Europe is building the systems my own country urgently needs. I intend to approach it not just as a student, but as an active observer – learning from both successes and limitations, and considering how these lessons might translate back to Southeast Asia.
