Sustainability Abroad
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TOC: Sustainability Abroad
What is Sustainability?
Sustainability can be defined in many ways, and you may have encountered many of these definitions already. The United Nations broadly defines sustainability as the following: "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Aiming for this goal, on an individual and societal level, requires vigilance, patience, and thoughtfulness regarding how our actions impact the environment and all who inhabit it. Both at home and abroad, thinking about the impacts of your actions both in terms of who you meet and those to come is a useful ethos.
Tangibly, sustainability entails the integration of environmental resilience, socioeconomic equality, and more. Oftentimes, students encounter the term in the context of natural environments, but it also applies to those who inhabit those as well. Sustainability encompasses every and all issues that you are passionate about, not only climate.
Tip: If you are not already familiar, take a few minutes to look over the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Are Study Abroad and Sustainability Incompatible?
Short answer? No!...Long answer? It requires intentional thought and planning.
Sustainable choices are often complex, contextual, and personal. More than anything, sustainability is a philosophical commitment to tangibly reducing one's negative impact (and increasing one's positive impact) on the people and planet around them. What is considered sustainable in the United States may not be realistic in another country.
For example, when Emma Barrett '25 traveled to Malawi during her term abroad, she discovered that using a reusable water bottle—a daily habit for her in the United States—was not feasible. She was encouraged to drink bottled water for health and safety reasons, which meant that water consumption generated more waste than she had intended. In light of this, she tried to reduce her wasteful consumption in other areas, such as eating fewer packaged snacks.
Emma's experience, along with others, highlights why sustainability cannot be reduced to a set of actions, but is a philosophy that is meant to be adapted to each context.
Choosing a Program with Sustainability in Mind
Many study abroad providers have values, missions, or ethos statements on their websites about their commitments to supporting the communities they work in and with. These statements may depict specific goals to which they strive when it comes to bolstering environmental and socioeconomic resilience.
Given many Yale students choose programs where learning about social issues is a core part of the academic experience, the commitment of the study abroad provider can have a huge impact on your ability to make sustainable choices. When looking at programs, you may want to ask yourself the following:
- Are there course activities that help give back to the local community?
- Does the program offer courses that help students become more familiar with local histories and cultures?
- Does the study abroad provider have a statement on sustainability? Do those values align with your perspective on sustainability?
Sustainability-Oriented Programs
Given that sustainability encompasses a host of issues, a majority of study abroad programs cover it. We certainly encourage you to explore climate-focused programs, but also those with focuses on adjacent issues, such as health, human rights, international development, and gender equality. These following recommendations are not prescriptive, but curated to provide a sense of the range of topics considered sustainability:
- SIT Study Abroad Programs with a focus on Climate & Environment
- School for Field Studies (SFS) Programs
- DIS Copenhagen's Sustainability Program
- IES Abroad programs in Freiburg, Quito or Granada
- Direct enrollment in universities with relevant departments in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa
Gabrielle Roman '25 studied abroad on the School for Field Studies Endangered Species Conservation program in Kenya during the Spring 2024 semester. Hear how she reflects on what she learned on her experience stays with her, even after returning to Yale:
"Mt. Kilimanjaro was personified as the lifeblood of Kimana, Kenya—the source that sustains all aspects of life. Its waters nourished the elephants, lions, hyenas, and countless other animals that drew visitors from across the globe. Its streams fed the crops, filled the pots for cooking and cleaning, and quenched our thirsts. I remember one of our professors commenting on the showering habits of my peers and I. He acknowledged the joy experienced by listening to music and lingering in the shower, but reminded us that the water we use comes from Kilimanjaro — the mountain that provides us everything. I’m frequently reminded of these words and those of another professor, who during my time there said that if we feel stressed, we need only to look up at Kilimanjaro. Its constant presence provided solace and reminded us of the interconnectedness of life."
Preparing to Study Abroad
Most importantly, be realistic, and be vigilant! Sustainability is very contextual, so be prepared to possibly adapt your conception of sustainability once you embark on your study abroad journey.
While you will certainly learn a lot about sustainability during your time abroad, there are ways to prepare prior to departing for your program. Studying abroad is a great opportunity to implement sustainable choices you already make and to start making more of those choices.
A good place to start is by looking at your daily routine. If you have reusable bags already, it might be a good idea to bring them along to reduce your waste. The same can be said for other reusable items, such as dishware and containers.
Often times, the most carbon-intensive part of studying abroad is transport. While you are abroad, you may want to consider how transport factors into your experience.
How does public transport look? Can you reduce your use of planes/cars while within country? Considering how your in-country transport plan not only can reduce negative environmental impacts but can shape how you experience your host country as a whole.
Another aspect of sustainability entails being mindful of the consequences your travel has on the local communities. While visitors, and the tourism industry as a whole, provide a lot of revenue for many countries around the world. However, local communities often benefit disproportionately less. Thus, it is important to think about how you aim to support local communities as much as you can. Ahead of time, we recommend reading up on concepts such as ethical tourism. There are various definitions of what this means, and we encourage you to do your research yourself. Some topics to consider are:
Is it possible to shop at locally owned markets? How can I be intentional about spending time in various neighborhoods of my host city? Are there local cultural centers where I can learn more about local politics?
Last But Not Least: Taking Sustainability Back Home With You!
Sustainability extends beyond your time abroad. Studying abroad is an immense privilege, and one not to take lightly; bringing back what you learn during your time abroad ensures the knowledge you gained can be shared with others as well. We understand that transitioning back to the U.S. and to university makes it difficult to implement those habits, but even finding small ways to do so can make a big difference.
As always, do not hesitate to reach out to a study abroad adviser or student outreach coordinator if you have questions.
Resources
To learn more about sustainability, climate change, and travel resources, we recommend checking out the following links: