Motivating sustainable behavior: waste management and freshwater production on the Caribbean island of Saint Barthélemy

Abstract

Saint Barthélemy (St. Barth) is a Caribbean island located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles. The island’s small size, lack of natural resources, socioeconomic features, and geographic isolation make it an interesting case study for matters of sustainability, specifically freshwater production and waste management. Interviews were conducted with residents of the island to determine the factors that motivate or discourage sustainable behavior with regards to these environmental issues. A sense of civic duty, the simplicity of environmental regulations, rapid communication and implementation, socioeconomic stability and affluence, and economic incentives each served to promote environmental stewardship and sustainable decision-making, while government priorities and persistent habits tended to hinder such behavior. The results of this study could be applied to other island communities with similar characteristics to determine how we, as a global society, can move towards a more sustainable future.