I have intensely wanted to travel abroad for as long as I can remember. The idea of seeing other places, experiencing other cultures and meeting people from different walks of life is very exciting for me, and participating in an exchange program is perfect to satisfy that desire. That being said, travelling overseas without any impact on the environment is impossible. I would like to spend my exchange in Canada whilst having as little environmental impact as possible.
Witnessing the rapid advancement of climate change over the course of my life has motivated me to do what I can to offset global warming – although that is little. Most modes of transport, especially aircraft, are major contributors to carbon emissions, therefore any international travel has some climate implications. In spite of my desire to do so, I do not travel often by air, but I recognise that any amount of travel I undertake will have an impact. The best thing I can do is I possibly can to promote sustainable travel to others, as well as mitigate my own impact as much as I can. To work towards mitigating my environmental impact during my exchange, I’ve taken some steps in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Since my exchange is taking place in Canada, taking a flight is unavoidable, therefore all of my planned actions will take place after I arrive. I am applying to accommodation in close proximity to the University I’ll be studying at, therefore walking will be highly feasible. For travelling further afield, I plan to use buses and trains exclusively. I plan to live as climate-friendly a lifestyle as possible whilst abroad, in ways such as avoiding single-use plastics, bringing my own reusable bottle, and patronising local businesses to reduce my consumer footprint. In addition to this future action I plan to take, I’ve recently been assisting in setting up a Climate Society at my home institution, and would like to locate a similar student organisation whilst in Canada to continue my involvement in such activities. These actions not only reduce my personal impact, but also strengthen my understanding of how global and local sustainability efforts intersect. My commitment to sustainability extends beyond this placement. I do my best in my day-to-day life to protect the environment – going out of my way to recycle and sort waste, buying from climate-conscious companies, and encouraging climate action within my community. This experience has encouraged me to continue to make environmentally responsible choices, both at home and overseas.
Sustainable travel is not a perfect concept, the key aspects within the movement are the intents of the individual and a sense of responsibility. By aligning my actions with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, I will ensure that my international placement will not only enrich myself individually, but also respectful to the planet. I hope that I will come out the other end of this experience with a deeper understanding that meaningful travel must always consider its environmental impact.
