I have just finished my exchange semester at Queensland University of Technology in 2026. This was an overall positive experience for my self development and an extremely enjoyable experience. In terms of how I went about my daily life regarding travel and sustainability the experience has been eye opening for me when it comes to living in a city with great public transport and a country that generally does have a focus on environmental impact. It should be noted that whilst I had to take a long haul flight to get out here, which I am aware is not in anyway good for carbon emissions, I still made the conscious decision to travel to a city in which I could learn what it was like to live without a car and using public buses and ferries to commute. The public transport in Queensland is going through a trial period of being set at A$0.50 per ride. This promotes the use of public transport which is going to be more environmentally friendly with a direct link to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11- Sustainable Cities and Communities. The city is extremely walkable as well, which makes choosing to walk or cycle over using a bus extremely easy. There are multiple public footpaths and riverwalks that encourage enjoyable walking routes that aren’t disrupted by cross roads and pedestrian lights. I made sure to use all of these positive features whilst in Brisbane walking to university via the riverwalk most days and using buses/ferries to make longer commutes more environmentally friendly than using a car. My exchange also increased my awareness of Sustainable Development Goal 13- Climate Action. Although international travel inevitably carries environmental costs, living in Brisbane showed me that individuals can still take meaningful steps to reduce their overall impact. The ease of using public transport and active forms of travel encouraged me to make more sustainable choices on a daily basis, something I intend to continue after returning home. In terms of long term impact on my choices I have come away from Brisbane believing in the improvement and expansion of public transport and walkability within cities whilst reducing traffic and congestion. Due to my positive experience in a city with less congestion I would support movements to push my home city of Glasgow to move in this direction. I can further reinforce my belief due to my experiences travelling cities with increased congestion. Brief time in Bangkok showed me the polar opposite of a walkable and free flowing environment. The approach in Bangkok is unlike Brisbanes as they have opted to replace cars with motorbikes and scooters which if anything are even less efficient than cars due to their maximum passenger carry of 2. Essentially I have become and advocate for this direction of development and will now opt to use the subway and train system in Glasgow and surrounding areas when I return home.
