As a Global Development student, I often encounter sustainability through statistics, policy papers and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. My year abroad in Hong Kong is an opportunity to experience these ideas in practice.
Hong Kong fascinates me because it is a city of contrasts. I still remember stepping off a tram in Central and looking up at glass towers rising above narrow, humid streets filled with market stalls and crossing bells. Some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers stand beside country parks that cover around 40% of the territory. Luxury shopping districts exist alongside communities facing housing inequality. These contrasts make Hong Kong ideal for exploring development and sustainability.
Before travelling, I recognised that the largest environmental impact of my placement would be the flight itself. While international travel inevitably generates emissions, sustainable travel is about taking responsibility for choices made before, during and after the journey. My goal is not to travel perfectly, but to travel consciously.
One way I will do this is by embracing Hong Kong’s world-renowned public transport system, which supports SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Rather than relying on taxis, I will travel primarily by MTR, tram, ferry and bus. This reduces my environmental impact while allowing me to experience the city as residents do.
My placement also encourages me to support SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Hong Kong’s fast-paced consumer culture has made me more aware of my habits. I will carry a reusable water bottle, tote bag and coffee cup, minimise single-use plastics, and support local businesses over packaged convenience stores. Sustainability, I have learned, is as much about what we choose not to consume as what we do.
The goal that resonates most strongly with me is SDG 13: Climate Action. Rather than treating Hong Kong as a base for frequent flights across Asia, I intend to explore more deeply and responsibly. Hiking Dragon’s Back, visiting outlying islands by ferry, and engaging with local conservation efforts have shown me that meaningful travel is measured by depth, not distance.
Sustainability for me has also extended beyond the environment. Through coaching local children in football and teaching English in Hong Kong, I experienced SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities in a very real way. It showed me how access to opportunity, language support and community spaces can shape a young person’s future. This strengthened my understanding of sustainability as social as well as environmental.
To support these goals, I have used resources such as MTR Mobile, Too Good To Go, WWF Hong Kong, AllTrails and the UN Sustainable Development Goals platform.
Ultimately, I want my year abroad to leave a positive footprint on me rather than a negative one on the environment. If sustainability is about meeting present needs without compromising the future, then my aim is simple: to ensure my experience in Hong Kong contributes to that future rather than taking away from it. I hope to return to the UK with practical lessons to share, encouraging more responsible travel and global citizenship.
