Sustainable Study Abroad
How to Be an Environmentally Conscious Global Student
Have you explored how sustainability fits into your placement if you are presently planning to or studying abroad?
Check out the following suggestions to help you make the most of your trip abroad by being environmentally conscious, saving money, making eco-conscious choices, and participating!
1. Enter and exit:
For eco-friendly travel, sustainable packing is a must. Consider what you’ll need throughout your trip and whether it’s worth carrying some extra goods with you before you leave. This can be less expensive and more environmentally friendly than purchasing a large number of new products when you get to your location. However, luggage space may rapidly fill up, so if you do find yourself wanting to buy some more items, keep the following in mind:
a. Do not purchase new: Before you go to the nearest retailer, go through second-hand advertisements on platforms, or local charity shops – you could discover precisely what you’re looking for, but at a much lower price! If you do wind up purchasing a few more items, you will most likely not have enough place in your luggage to carry everything back home with you. If such is the case, do not discard these items. Instead, try the below option.
b. Donate: Investigate whether your university has any zero-waste projects. If not, look for nearby donation locations, charity stores, or volunteer groups that will accept your items and recycle or reuse them. If you need to keep goods, such as books for research, it may be less expensive and better for the environment to send them by courier service rather than paying additional baggage fees at the airport.
2. Sustainable Transportation:
Our carbon footprint is one of the most significant environmental impacts we have as humans, and it is heavily influenced by how we travel. Study Abroad positions frequently result in a larger-than-usual carbon footprint due to increased long-distance travel, particularly aircraft. You can try to reduce this by avoiding long-haul and indirect flights wherever feasible and consider not returning home during your placement. You may also lower your transportation emissions by doing the following:
a. Carbon offsets: For sustainable study abroad, this is a smart technique to compensate for emissions that would otherwise be inevitable. Many airlines have their own programs to which you may donate while booking your travel, or you can search online for specific causes to support.
b. Public transportation: This is a low-cost and convenient mode of local transportation. Many places provide student discounts on monthly or annual travel passes. If you wish to embark on a longer vacation, consider using FlixBus or purchasing a train pass, such as Interrail.
c. The use of cycle/bike: A used bike may be a terrific purchase while you are overseas because it saves money on transportation, keeps you fit, and emits no emissions. Many universities and cities also have bike rental programs where you may borrow and return bikes anytime you want.
3. Everyday Things:
It might be difficult to grasp the impact of little individual choices, yet they can make a big effect in the long term. The following suggestions might assist you in ethical travel and being more sustainable in your daily life while abroad:
a. Recycle: For responsible tourism, make sure to recycle all of your waste and, before doing so, verify your local recycling rules, as these might differ between nations, cities, and even municipalities.
b. Purchasing seasonal and local sourcing vegetables: This decreases your food’s environmental effect by reducing air miles and energy use. Being a global student, bring a reusable bag with you when you go shopping, and taste some regional delicacies!
c. Use tap water: Check to see whether the water in your area is drinkable; if so, refill your reusable water bottle to avoid single-use plastics as they destroy the green living and save money on bottled water!
d. Sustainable accommodation: Get together with other exchange students and share stuff like cleaning supplies to avoid overbuying, or doing chores together.
4. Participate:
Finally, if you wish to move beyond individual action to create a sustainable society and benefit others, consider the following:
a. Find a sustainable program: Universities are increasingly offering courses with direct linkages to sustainability, and these are frequently open to all students. Why not go through your university’s course catalog to see what’s available?
b. Doing volunteer work: Most university towns have a plethora of student clubs and local organizations devoted to various aspects of sustainability. Look around to discover what’s available in your region!
These suggestions should have motivated you to live a more sustainable lifestyle while studying abroad. Choosing an eco-conscious path is important, and so is choosing the right program. Learn more in our Study Abroad vs Exchange Programs article.
