Who wouldn’t want to sit in a sticky seat, sardined next to strangers and sharing the same stuffy air for hours on a plane? As appetizing as that sounds, a flight from Vancouver to Edinburgh emits 2040 kg of CO2 per person, which…well, isn’t as fun. While there is no real way to avoid the environmental tax on travel, there are other ways to reduce your impact. For one, education (Goal 4). While learning about how to be eco-conscious may not always be accessible, with initiative, it is possible.
One of my goals is to learn how different cities approach waste reduction and contrast how strategies I incorporate at home translate to a new culture. Previously, the first time I had to relocate for an internship, I found that my new city didn’t readily compost organic wastes, which meant I had to seek out eco-stations. This pushed me to be more intentional in my choices. I became conscious of how infrastructure shapes people’s environmental habits. It also taught me that sustainability is not simply about individual choices, but about understanding and adapting to the systems around you (Goal 11).
To put the nail in the coffin, now that composting had become inconvenient, I had to learn how to portion my groceries so I didn’t produce as many compostables. Of course, I also realized how quickly garbage accumulated and how expensive it was to buy little things like Ziploc bags.To reduce trips to the garbage, I learned to invest in reusable containers. This then reduced reliance on single use plastics and waste. From here, I quickly understood that meant more dishes and since I had no dishwasher, I used my reusable water bottle more often rather than getting a new cup every time. While there was a learning curve and perhaps not all my habits were directly rooted in sustainability, I did learn that I can make curated decisions that are both eco-friendly and tangible (Goal 12).
So, when I go abroad, I plan to challenge myself to continue adapting sustainable habits in my daily life. Maybe not grand sweeping gestures like stopping the Arctic from melting but rather, little decisions, like reusable utensils or even thrifting new clothes and furniture. This also means considering how I move through space: walking, cycling and taking public transport—lower-impact transportation that pushes me to both exercise and interact more meaningfully with a new community (Goal 3). For me, sustainable travel doesn’t have to be overwhelming, it just has to be consistent.
Ultimately, while I emphasized individual action, I believe travel and sustainability is a collective effort. Travel broadens perspectives, fosters cultural understanding, and encourages innovation, all of which are essential for solving global environmental challenges. I approach travelling with curiosity, accountability, and a willingness to adapt so that my experience abroad is not only personally meaningful, but also environmentally responsible. Sustainable travel should be an exchange of ideas as much as cultures.
