I believe travel should leave footprints of connection, not carbon.
As I prepare for my year abroad in San Francisco this August, I’m packing more than clothes and course materials – I’m packing a mindset. A mindset rooted in responsibility, guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and committed to making this journey as eco-conscious as possible.
In line with SDG goal 13, Climate Action, will be the first thing I target to act upon before stepping on the plane. I plan to offset my flight’s carbon emissions through a verified reforestation initiative and will travel with a single, light suitcase to reduce the plane’s fuel burden. I’ve chosen an airline with sustainability commitments, one that invests in cleaner aviation fuels and more efficient fleets, because even small choices at 30,000 feet can have real-world consequences.
Once I arrive, I intend to make SDG goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities a lived experience. I will be living in student accommodation on campus, which will allow me to walk to my lectures, to avoid long commutes and reduce my reliance on cars. Also, outside of lectures, walking, biking, and using public transport won’t just be practical but they will be part of my sustainability toolkit. I’ll also explore joining community gardens or volunteering with local environmental groups to stay rooted in meaningful local action.
Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG goal 12) will continue to shape my lifestyle. I’ll buy second-hand rather than new, and I’ve already committed to a minimalist packing list. Instead of fast fashion and disposables, I’m taking a refillable water bottle, reusable bags, and essentials designed to last the year. I also plan to eat more plant-based meals and shop at farmers markets to reduce packaging and support local growers.
More than anything, I want to make sustainability visible and shared to be a role model to others. I’ll document my efforts through journaling, photography, and short reflections—something I hope to turn into a digital resource or blog for future Swansea students going abroad. We are part of a global community now, and that community thrives when we share ideas, not just experiences.
Even before boarding my flight, I’m learning that sustainability is not just about changing how we move through the world, it is about rethinking how we belong to it. It is in the everyday decisions: choosing a tram over a taxi, a thrift store over fast fashion, a local lunch over global chains. It’s also in the quiet confidence of knowing that choosing the greener path, though not always the easiest, makes you part of something far bigger.
I have not left yet, but my sustainable journey has already begun. And when I arrive in San Francisco, I will not just be a visitor, I’ll be a participant in creating a cleaner, more thoughtful world, benefiting both mine and the rest of the world’s future.
Because travel gives us wings, but sustainability gives us roots.
