Hope has always arrived in my life like a change in the wind — gentle at first, then unmistakable. Travel is where I feel it most. Every new place reminds me that the world is bigger, more beautiful, and more fragile than I sometimes remember. That sense of hope is what shapes my thoughts on sustainability, especially as I prepare for my international placement in France. It pushes me to travel in a way that protects the very places that inspire me.
My understanding of eco‑friendly travel began in Cornwall. Each summer, my family would wander down to the coves tucked beneath the cliffs, where the tide left behind stories in the sand. Some of those stories weren’t so pretty. Crisp packets, fishing line, bottle caps — small things that didn’t belong in a place so peaceful. The Marine Conservation Society reports that UK beaches hold over 170 pieces of litter per 100 metres, and I saw first hand how litter harms wildlife, pollutes water, and breaks down into microplastics that stay for centuries. Cleaning those coves taught me that sustainability isn’t abstract. It’s practical. It’s personal. And it’s hopeful — because every piece removed makes the world a little better.
That hope guides the measures I’m taking to ensure my placement in France is as sustainable as possible. For SDG 13: Climate Action, I’m choosing low‑carbon travel wherever I can. Air travel is convenient, but a single short‑haul flight can emit up to 250 kg of CO₂ per passenger, and long‑haul flights can exceed 1 tonne. France’s rail network offers a cleaner alternative: trains can reduce emissions by up to 90% compared to flying, making them one of the most renewable and efficient ways to travel. Slower travel feels more meaningful — you see the country rather than just crossing it.
For SDG 12: Responsible Consumption, I’m keeping my packing light and avoiding single‑use plastics. I carry a reusable bottle and choose products that minimise waste. These small habits began in Cornwall, but they’ve grown into a mindset I take with me everywhere.
And for SDG 15: Life on Land, I plan to join local environmental efforts during my placement — beach clean‑ups along the Atlantic coast, riverbank restoration days, or community projects that protect biodiversity. Giving back to the places I visit feels like the most natural expression of sustainable travel.
Hope, to me, is the belief that small actions matter. That cleaner coves, quieter shores, and healthier ecosystems are possible if we choose them. As I step into France, I carry that hope with me — a promise to travel lightly, act consciously, and leave every place a little better than I found it.
