Gauging the effectiveness of a resource management awareness campaign on a central Mediterranean island

Abstract

The ‘Reduce and Save’ campaign aimed to promote environmental sustainability awareness on the island of Gozo. Gozo forms part of the central Mediterranean Maltese Archipelago and has been earmarked to become an eco-island through the implementation of a local sustainable development strategy by 2020. The campaign falls under the umbrella of a wider-ranging initiative known as the eco-Gozo project, under the auspices of the Ministry for Gozo. The Reduce and Save campaign consisted of the identification and training of personnel capable of conducting a number of home visits in an attempt to reach as many Gozitan households as possible. The home visits made by these personnel consisted of 30-min information sessions on energy, waste and water management aspects, the distribution of informational printed matter and the filling in of a questionnaire to enable data compilation on specific topics. This chapter assesses the results generated by the questionnaire in conjunction with other information sources. Analyses of questionnaire responses revealed that a favourable disposition towards renewable energy (RE) technologies and energy-saving and water-conservation measures already existed amongst Gozitan households. Data on RE installations and energysaving ventures for the islands are compiled by national entities such as the National Statistics Office and the Malta Resources Authority. These and other sources are assessed in order to gauge the effects, if any, of the Reduce and Save campaign. Any impacts on the behavioural patterns of Gozitans following the campaign are assessed by comparing specific indicators for the island with similar information for the main island of Malta. While the results help to consolidate the information compiled, they also enable the refinement of the training and dissemination methodologies utilised as a means of tailoring a similar, albeit larger-scale,campaign for the main island of Malta. Similar exercises timing to increase awareness on environmental sustainability can also be replicated for other islands or communities.