The long flight from Malaysia to the UK would leave a massive amount of carbon footprint, so I want to try my best to ensure my time during this exchange is as sustainable as possible.
I plan on aligning my journey with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically targeting SDG11 (Sustainable cities and communities) and SDG13 (Climate action). According to the UK government, they are committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Even though I will only be there for one semester, I want to do my part to contribute to that goal.
While I cannot completely avoid the heavy carbon footprint of my long flight, I can control how I travel on land. Coming from Malaysia, which is a heavily car-centric country where public transport is limited and most households own multiple cars, I’m hoping that studying in Lancaster will help me break my reliance on cars and reshape my daily habits. By using public transport, I hope to bring back the practice of the SDG11 to keep a sustainable city and community back home to Malaysia. Furthermore, a study from Nathalie Dällenbach shows that travelling by train emits 80 to 90% less carbon dioxide than by plane. Hence, I plan to travel by train or bus instead of booking short flights when I explore UK and Europe during the weekends by using the Trainline app.
However, transport is only a small part of what I can do. Sustainability happens within my daily routine and habit. Instead of buying brand new room essentials that would just end up in a landfill when my term ends, I plan to buy my kitchenware and bedding from Lancaster University’s own ReStore Eco Market in Alexandra Square. This initiative promotes eco-friendly practices by selling pre-loved items left behind by previous students. By shopping here, I not only save money as a student on a budget, but I also directly prevent waste.
In Malaysia, dining out and getting takeaway is extremely cheap and convenient, but it relies heavily on single-use plastic packaging. Living in Lancaster gives me the perfect opportunity to break this cycle. I intend to cook my own meals and strictly use reusable containers and tote bags instead of using plastic bags. To take this a step further, I would also use the Too Good To Go app to rescue surplus and unsold meals from going to waste.
By embracing these habits today, I hope to influence my peers and to carry an eco-conscious mindset back home, ensuring that my future choices continue to contribute to a cleaner and greener world.
References:
Dällenbach, N. (2020). Low-carbon travel mode choices: The role of time perceptions and familiarity. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 86, 102378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2020.102378
