I cycled from the UK to Bangkok before starting my job at the University of Hong Kong, and I loved the fact that my carbon footprint was so low. Traveling by bicycle was the best way to experience the countries I passed through.

But since starting my job at HKU, I have flown on numerous long haul flights, to spend a few days at a conference. I can no longer justify doing this when I know that climate breakdown is occurring. I have decided not to attend a summer school in the US this year because it would mean another flight. I am also committed to traveling to any conferences I do attend by train if at all possible.

This summer, I will return to the UK to visit my family which means a long-haul flight cannot be avoided. However, I have decided to spend two months in Europe and I will travel to my conference in Lisbon by ferry and train. It will be more expensive, but I know it is the right thing to do – individual actions can make a difference, and reshape how other people think and act as well. This is the beginning of an attempt to reduce my flights to a maximum of one round trip flight per year, before phasing out flying totally.