1

1Motivating Sustainable Behavior: A Case Study in Waste Management, Freshwater

2Production, and Energy on the Caribbean Island of Saint Barthélemy
3
4Abstract: Saint Barthélemy (St. Barth) is a Caribbean island located in the Leeward Islands of the
5Lesser Antilles. The island’s small size, lack of natural resources, socioeconomic features, and
6geographic isolation make it an interesting case-study for matters of sustainability, specifically
7freshwater production, waste management, and energy production. Interviews were conducted
8with residents of the island to determine the factors that motivate or discourage sustainable
9behavior in the residents of St. Barth with regards to these three environmental issues. A sense of
10civic duty, the simplicity of environmental regulations, rapid communication and
11implementation, socioeconomic stability and affluence, and economic incentives each served to
12promote environmental stewardship and sustainable decision-making, while government
13priorities and persistent habits tended to hinder such behavior. The results of this study could be
14applied to other island communities with similar characteristics to determine how we, as a global
15society, can move towards a more sustainable future.
16
17Keywords: Caribbean, sustainability, waste management, freshwater, energy
18
19Introduction
20
21 Saint Barthélemy, or St. Barth, is a small Caribbean island of about 23 square kilometers
22and approximately 9,500 permanent residents. Because of its size, isolation, and lack of natural
23resources, St. Barth has had to creatively address environmental issues such as freshwater
24production, waste management, and energy production. For example, the mountainous terrain
25and lack of space make the prospect of a landfill nearly impossible, and the absence of naturally
26occurring freshwater streams or reservoirs has created challenges for the island’s growing
27population. In the past, waste was burned at the household level or dumped directly into the
28ocean, two methods of waste disposal which create obvious environmental impacts such as air
29and water pollution that could lead to public health and ecological issues. To obtain freshwater,
30cisterns were used for rainwater storage. Though these methods were adequate when the
31population was small, rapid rates of growth and modernization have since rendered such
32lifestyles impractical and insufficient. Since 2001, however, as a way to lessen the dependence
33upon fossil fuels for at least one energy-intensive activity, the island has relied on a waste-to-
34energy (WTE) facility where most waste is burned; thermal energy from the combustion process
35is then captured and sent to a desalination facility where seawater is converted to freshwater. The
36desalinator is often a supplemental water resource for residents, who usually still utilize cisterns
37in their homes.
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3Figure 1. Map of Saint Barthélemy. Cartography by K.M. Groom, Arizona State University, from
4C. Allen (ed). Landscapes and Landforms of the Lesser Antilles. World Geomorphological
5Landscapes vol. 12. New York: Springer, 48.
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1 While the current government administration can be slow to adopt progressive policies
2solely for the sake of protecting the environment, they are beginning to recognize the importance
3of maintaining environmental quality for the productivity of the economy, which is almost
4entirely reliant on tourism. The majority of the island’s residents, however, are extremely proud
5of their home, often feeling the need to protect the environment not only to maintain their quality
6of life and health but also to protect the environment for its own inherent value. Sustainable
7decisions are motivated by community and a sense that each resident has his or her own place in
8an interconnected whole. The residents of St. Barth feel connected to each other and to their
9environment, prompting many of them to be environmentally-minded citizens.
10
11Background
12
13Sustainable Communities and Decision-Making
14 Research indicates that solving global environmental problems such as climate change
15begins with everyday decisions made at the household level. In many cases, however, people will
16choose not to make a sustainable choice even when they are presented with two discernible
17options. There are three overarching factors which prompt people to act environmentally or
18otherwise: environmental values, which include how one views herself in the context of the
19natural world; situational variables, such as age, political preference, and level of education; and
20psychological factors, such as the feeling that personal action will actually make a positive
21impact (Barr, 2007). Constructing social norms is also critical to influencing environmental
22decisions. If an individual believes that everyone around them is making a certain choice, they
23will be more likely to act. Much of it comes down to convenience and logistics, however. If an
24environmental practice is easy, cheap, and convenient, it is much more likely to be adopted by
25the members of a society. Many discrepancies seen in individual choices are examples of the
26“attitude-behavior gap”, which exists when a person is made aware of an environmental issue
27and given instructions on how to lessen their impact, but still chooses not to change their lifestyle
28(Barr and Gilg, 2007).
29 An opposing opinion to Barr can be found in that of environmental scientist Michael
30Maniates. He observes that small, individual decisions will not be able to create sustainable
31communities, especially when such decisions are driven by consumerism. In fact, by
32participating in so-called sustainable consumerism, one may only be perpetuating the very cycle
33that has reinforced environmental degradation for decades. Involvement in local government and
34community affairs, as well as positive changes toward sustainable decision-making at a higher
35level of government, will promote change at a greater scale (Maniates, 2001). To reconcile these
36opposing views, the overall mindset of an entire community, city, or even country is possibly
37more important than the individual’s choices, for collective action is a much more powerful
38driver of change. Changing the mindset of a community, in some cases, may depend upon the
39decision-making of the governing body. Maniates argues that decisions made by a government
40may limit the choices available to consumers, thus constraining citizens to the options made
41available to them by local or even national policy-makers. For example, an individual may

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1decide to take a bus to work each day rather than driving a personal vehicle, though they would
2really prefer to ride a bike. Because the government in this hypothetical situation does not
3provide bike lanes, the individual is confined to a limited set of choices.
4
5 The sum of the actions of individuals amounts to community-level impact. In order to
6create a community that is sustainable, defined by community planner Sharon Bailey (1990, p.
7iii) as “a community that is responsible, caring, empowered, healthy, and most importantly, in
8balance with nature,” it is necessary to define the goals of the community as well as the values
9which should be upheld and practiced by its members. The values of individuals will only be
10changed when one is convinced that change is required, leading to a shift in lifestyle choices
11which reflect the values that are important to the community as a whole. Bailey states:
12 The building blocks of community are individuals. In order for a community to become
13 sustainable in human and ecological terms, individuals must feel they are valued
14 members of the community and in return they must act as responsible members of the
15 community. A sustainable community requires that individuals co-operate for the greater
16 good of the community, but it also recognizes that the individuals must be able to realize
17 their full human potential (1990, p. 39-40).
18If a person does not believe that their actions on a day-to-day basis will affect the overall well-
19being or outcome of the entire community, then their lifestyle and values will not change.
20Therefore, a sense of place or significance within society is critical to creating sustainable
21communities. Bailey contends that the creation of such communities occurs on three levels:
22physically, socially, and politically. In this way, the physical impact of a community on the
23environment can be minimized, the values of society can be established, and political influence
24can be strengthened to implement change into the community.
25 These behavioral trends are manifested uniquely in the context of island communities.
26Islands are geographically and culturally unique and must adapt to environmental issues
27differently than their continental counterparts. According to the geographer Stephen Royle, at the
281985 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, small size, isolation, transportation
29and communication difficulties, as well as limited internal economic opportunities were
30identified as challenges faced by developing islands in the Caribbean (1989). Royle also states
31that,
32
33 Smaller islands, whether nations or not, often face severe problems of how to provide
34 their inhabitants with a living from an absolutely restricted resource base and/or find
35 restrictions placed on their development because of the lack of, or shortage of, a
36 necessary resource such as water (1989, p. 111).
37
38 Due in part to these challenges, sustainable resource management and the implementation
39of sound environmental policy is paramount. In addition, there has been a rapid increase in both
40the permanent and seasonal populations of islands in recent years mainly due to an increase in

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1tourism, which places more strain on the environment and resources in many sectors (Pariatamby
2et al., 2014).
3
4Waste Management on Islands
5 As more people condense into a finite amount of space, the environment’s capacity to
6handle waste reaches a limit. Collecting, treating, and disposing of trash has become a significant
7challenge for many island nations, therefore sound environmental policies for waste management
8must be enacted (Pariatamby et al., 2014). In many cases, islands simply do not possess enough
9space for a landfill (Rodríguez, 2011). In the past, it has been customary by many island societies
10to dump waste directly into the ocean. The negative environmental effects of this practice are
11obvious, though fortunately, recent international agreements have succeeded significantly in
12lessening this method of waste disposal (Corti, 2013).
13 Waste-to-energy facilities (WTE) are becoming a common alternative for waste
14management. Based on a 2013 report, there are approximately 1,600 WTE facilities worldwide
15(Coenrady, 2013). The combustion process produces thermal energy, which can be used directly
16as heat or to create electricity. Many worry that this process emits harmful pollutants such as
17mercury and dioxins, however the United States Environmental Protection Agency has shown
18that WTE plants produce electricity with much fewer negative environmental impacts than other
19forms of energy generation (Themelis, 2003). While they are not perfect, WTE facilities may
20prove to be a more efficient means of waste disposal, and they continue to become better over
21time. Overseeing their improvement and efficiency is the Waste-To-Energy Research and
22Technology Council (WTERT), whose goal is to promote high performance and environmental
23quality (Themelis, 2003). Overall, WTE is a concept that can help us to reframe how we view
24waste. Rather than seeing it as garbage that has lost all use or economic value, it can be used to
25create energy, reduce pollution, and save space from landfill conversion.
26 One example of a WTE facility can be found on the island of Saint Barthélemy, where a
27plant was built in 2001 to accommodate a growing amount of municipal solid waste. Rather than
28generating electricity, however, the combustion of trash provides thermal energy to power a
29desalination plant, which provides freshwater for a growing number of tourists and local
30inhabitants. A campaign has been enacted to encourage residents to sort garbage at a household
31level. Categories of waste include paper, cardboard, organic waste, and plastic to be sent to the
32WTE facility, glass to be reused locally, metals to be exported and recycled, and batteries to be
33exported to Guadeloupe. The water produced by the desalination plant provides for about 40% of
34the island’s demand (Rodríguez, 2011). Rodríguez points out that the island itself, though small
35and primarily tourism-oriented, was able to have a WTE facility in place primarily because of its
36association with France. (St. Barth, politically, is an “overseas collectivity” of France).
37 In addition to St. Barth, Bermuda (a British Overseas Territory, population 65,000) and
38Martinique (an overseas department of France, population 386,500) have also chosen to address
39waste management in this way. Bermuda’s facility, Tynes Bay, began operation in 1994 after the
40island’s landfill capacity began to reach its limit. Because Bermuda must import most of its
41consumer items, trash levels are high because products are packaged heavily before making their

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1journey to the island. Rather than providing thermal energy to produce freshwater as on St.
2Barth, the facility in Bermuda creates electricity. On the island, 80% of the waste is currently
3incinerated, with another 15% being composted. All remaining waste (which consists mostly of
4bulk waste) is sent to the landfill. Since it began operating, the WTE facility has functioned
5successfully in Bermuda and has solved the conflict between high trash volume and limited
6space (Rodríguez, 2011).
7 Martinique disposes of waste in a variety of ways: dumps, landfills, composting, and a
8WTE facility. Like Bermuda, the facility in Martinique produces electricity that is sold to the
9grid. This facility is funded by the local government, the French government, and the European
10Union (Rodríguez, 2011).
11 These three islands have a higher GDP per capita than many other Caribbean islands and
12are all territories of highly developed nations which can provide knowledge and capital for WTE
13facilities to be successful. Hence, the WTE solution may not work for poorer islands where
14dumping is still customary and the tipping price of landfills is virtually nonexistent (Rodríguez,
152011).
16 One strategy for managing waste on islands is composting. Through this process, waste
17can be diverted from landfills or WTE facilities, thereby minimizing the increasing accumulation
18of municipal solid waste in places that lack the space to manage it. For example, a composting
19facility has been proposed on the island of Mauritius where roughly 70% of waste produced is
20organic material. The facility will accommodate 300 tons of waste per day, amounting to 100,000
21tons per year. Through natural cycles, the waste will produce an organic product which can be
22sold by the facility for profit (Mohee et al., 2010). Composting can be considered a sustainable
23alternative for islands, making effective use of discarded nutrients while also saving space and
24preventing pollution.
25
26Freshwater Production on Islands
27 As seen in the case of the WTE facility and the desalination plant in St. Barth, freshwater
28production and waste management can go hand-in-hand. Island nations face even greater
29challenges regarding freshwater production because many oceanic islands lack sufficient
30groundwater reserves or naturally occurring surface water. In the past, catchment of rainwater
31has been the primary source of water for people living on small, dry islands. However, as
32populations grow and climate change creates uncertainties, islands can quickly become
33vulnerable. Desalination is often a viable solution to this issue (Fielding, 2014).
34 Apart from St. Barth, islands in the Aegean archipelago have sought to improve their
35capacity to satisfy freshwater demands. Due to limited natural resources, these communities rely
36on ground reservoirs and dams, desalination, wells, and imported water from the mainland. One
37study suggests that the most sustainable option for the Aegean archipelago would be investment
38in renewable energy to power desalination facilities. One example given is the island of Milos,
39which has had an increased demand for water in recent years which coincides with an increase in
40tourism. In order to create a more efficient desalination process, the island could take advantage
41of geothermal potential as a renewable alternative. Other islands in the archipelago could

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1capitalize on wind and solar potential for the same purpose. This means of freshwater production
2would be preferable to water transport from elsewhere both from an economic and
3environmental perspective. Currently, around 7 million Euros (US$7,875,350) are spent per year
4to create a sufficient water supply in the Aegean archipelago. Investing in desalination plants
5powered by renewable energy sources would create long-term solutions that would ultimately
6decrease costs, create infrastructure for future generations, and protect the environment
7(Kaldellis and Kondili, 2007).
8
9Energy on Islands
10 Creating sustainable energy systems is also a challenge for many island communities, and
11often these areas struggle to achieve energy security due to a heavy reliance on fossil fuel
12imports.With an increasing demand for electricity from tourists and a growing population,
13islands must constantly increase their energy infrastructure and capacity. However, communities
14can be hesitant to invest in renewable energy. According to social and political scientists
15Elizabeth Bomberg and Nicola McEwen (2012), lack of mobilization for community energy
16projects can be attributed to certain barriers, including psychological factors such as attitude,
17perception, lack of accurate information, or a feeling that their individual contribution will not
18make a difference. There is also little incentive for individuals to invest in renewable energy
19infrastructure such as solar panels because the benefits are reaped by the greater global
20community, while the costs are incurred only to the individual. One strategy to overcoming this
21challenge is to grow the sense of identity within the community, or “place-based identity,
22emerging from a shared geographic space, history, infrastructure and sense of belonging”
23(Bomberg and McEwen 2012), which would prompt individuals to make positive contributions
24to the community at large. Technical barriers such as a lack of technical knowledge or
25infrastructure could also create difficulties, though the most prominent barrier identified by
26Bomberg and McEwen (2012) is financial. Solar panels are expensive to purchase and install,
27though this burden can be lessened by the prospect of lower energy costs or even an energy
28surplus which could be sold for profit. Government investments or support could also help
29overcome financial challenges, though this can be challenging if the government does not see the
30benefits of renewable energy investment. To combat this hesitation, the idea of community
31sustainability and autonomy could be encouraged, or in other words the prospect that the island
32or community could survive without “outside” resources may be helpful in encouraging the
33mobilization of communities or governing bodies towards investment in renewable energy
34projects (Bomberg and McEwen 2012).
35
36Methods
37 In St. Barth, I was given a tour of the WTE facility as well as the electricity plant. My
38primary means of research was interviews. I spoke with 21 individuals, all local inhabitants,
39some of whom were environmental activists, government officials, and workers in the WTE or
40electricity facilities. To obtain a more comprehensive picture of the local opinions and
41perspectives, I varied my interviewees whenever possible based on age, gender, socioeconomic

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1status, and occupation. The gathering of participants occurred randomly; as I met and interacted
2with residents, I easily found people willing to participate due to the well-connected nature of the
3island. The sample of participants was almost completely random. Shorthand notes were taken to
4summarize the conversation which were then written out in more detail later. To analyze the data,
5I coded responses into categories and looked for trends and similarities of opinion. These trends
6were then reviewed to draw conclusions. Questions tended to vary depending on the person I was
7interviewing, and many of these questions were a mere starting point that led to more in depth
8discussion. For a complete list of interview questions, please refer to the Appendix.
9
10Results
11
12 All participants that were interviewed for this study contended that St. Barthélemy has
13undergone significant changes since they first moved to the island, or if they had lived on the
14island for a longer length of time, within the past forty to fifty years. Respondents reported
15significant population growth and subsequently more construction, more cars, more noise, and in
16general a rapid modernization which has made the lifestyle of St. Barth more comfortable,
17allowing improved access to modern conveniences such as technology and imported foods and
18other goods. Most respondents associated these changes with various negative consequences,
19such as increased pollution and environmental degradation, as well as a general change in
20ambiance.
21 The economy of the island has also been transformed significantly. Prior to the 1960’s,
22there were few economic opportunities available to residents apart from salt production, fishing,
23and shipping, however this began to change when wealthy Americans such as David Rockefeller
24began to build vacation homes on St. Barth, opening the island as a new destination for high-end
25tourism.
26 Today, the island is pursuing a “quality over quantity” approach, hoping to attract a
27smaller number of wealthy clients rather than accommodating more people in larger, cheaper
28resorts or hotels. The vast majority of permanent residents rely on tourism for their livelihood.
29Based on the interviews conducted, residents have an ambivalent view of tourism-- they
30recognize that it is necessary to generate income and to improve the overall quality of life,
31though there is also a noticeable resentment of tourists and the impact they have had on their
32small community. Despite this resentment, the current economy is booming; according to the
33island’s president, the government has no debt and the population has grown from 3,000
34residents in 1980 to over 9,500 today.
35
36Waste Management
37 As the economy and population continued to grow in tandem, it became necessary to
38address the issue of waste management, for more people and more economic activity inevitably
39generate more waste. The island’s small size, mountainous terrain, and high economic value of
40the land also preclude the possibility of a landfill. In 2002, there were 6,000 tons of trash
41produced; in 2015 there were 11,000. Before the island’s “transformation”, residents report that it

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1was customary to either dump waste directly into the ocean or to burn it at home. One respondent
2remembers that as a child, he was on a boat near the island and saw an old refrigerator floating in
3the water. This anecdote illustrates the obvious environmental impacts of this method of waste
4disposal. In order to accommodate the growing amount of trash, an incinerator was built in 2001
5which accommodates all waste apart from glass, metal, and other used objects such as
6dishwashers or cars that clearly cannot be burned. Residents have been asked to sort their trash at
7home to make this process more efficient. One bin is designated for combustible waste, while
8another is specifically used for glass and metal and requires a clear trash bag. Once arriving at
9the incinerator, either through a garbage pick-up service or deposited there directly by residents,
10glass is ground up into a sand-like substance to be repurposed, and metal must be exported for
11later recycling. All other waste is burned, and then the ashes are packed and exported to Europe.
12 When questioned about the waste-sorting regulation, 100 percent of respondents reported
13that they participate, and many find the system easy and convenient. Because there are only two
14bins (as opposed to four or more as in other countries), and because many residents are served by
15a truck that picks up garbage directly from their home, it is easy to participate. Combustible
16waste is picked up every day except Sundays and holidays, while glass and metal are picked up
17once per week. Two bins are usually available in public places such as community spaces,
18beaches, and restaurants. In short, most people do not have to go far out of their way to comply
19with the regulation. Residents also report being well-educated about the regulation. Ads have
20appeared in newspapers and on the radio which explain how to sort and why sorting is necessary.
21These campaigns are reported to have improved the success of the regulation significantly, and
22because of the island’s small size, it was easy to spread information and to implement the
23regulation effectively. Negative reinforcement has also played a role in its successful
24implementation. If a truck comes to remove garbage and sees that a bag is not properly sorted,
25they will place a sticker that reads pas conforme or “not conforming” on the bag and will not
26take the bag to the incinerator.
27 Despite the overall success of this regulation, the waste-sorting system is not perfect, and
28this was evident during interviews. Several respondents said that other people simply choose not
29to participate because they do not care, they do not want to change their habits, or they are not
30well-educated on the proper behavior. For example, some people still burn their trash at home,
31not because it is more convenient, but because that has been a part of their lifestyle and they do
32not want to change their habits. Others may not want to pay for the trash pick-up service which
33costs 110 Euros (US$120) per year for households and up to 1,000 Euros (US$1093) per year for
34businesses. Most participants said that this mindset was the minority, however. According to an
35incinerator employee, sorting has improved dramatically in recent years due to increased
36communication and education, though they do still employ someone to do an additional round of
37sorting once waste reaches the incinerator.
38 Several respondents reported that the waste management system is not always convenient
39for them. Due to the steep terrain of St. Barth, there are certain private roads which are not
40accessible to garbage trucks. Therefore, some people must bring their trash to the incinerator
41directly. This was one grievance brought up by respondents, who said that traffic is heavy at the

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1incinerator in the morning and going out of their way to dispose of their trash was somewhat
2burdensome. Furthermore, some interviewees said they believed there were not adequate trash
3bins in public spaces. Although the system could always be improved, overall the sorting
4regulation has been well-implemented into the St. Barth community based on the testimonies of
5the interviewees.
6 Another common waste management issue commonly cited by residents was composting.
7The island produces large amounts of déchets verts or “green waste” which includes plant waste,
8food waste, tree trimmings, and other forms of organic waste. Composting would not only divert
9waste from the incinerator, but it would also make use of available nutrients to create a usable
10product. Land has already been purchased for a composting facility, though construction has yet
11to begin. The government reports that the facility is a 16 million Euro investment
12(US$16,968,800). The compost produced by the facility will be used locally to maintain
13landscaping and gardens and would reinforce the island’s vegetation in the event of a hurricane,
14such as Hurricane Irma which hit the island in 2017. It may also deter people from burning
15organic waste at home. Some interviewees were hesitant to compost if it required an additional
16bin for sorting, or if the facility were placed near their homes. One resident in particular would
17benefit greatly from a composting facility. As the owner of a plant nursery, his business produces
1810-11 tons of déchets verts per month which he must pay to incinerate. He also accrues high
19costs to import compost from other countries to use in his nursery, therefore having a local
20compost source would dramatically reduce costs. Based on the interviews, residents are in
21support of composting and believe it would be beneficial to St. Barth.
22
23Freshwater Production
24 There are no naturally occurring sources of freshwater on the island, meaning there are
25no natural surface or groundwater reservoirs from which to extract municipal water supplies.
26Furthermore, the island’s small size and isolation makes it economically imprudent to attempt to
27import freshwater from elsewhere. Instead, the island relies heavily on a desalinator which was
28constructed to meet the growing demand for freshwater that occurred mainly due to population
29growth and growth of the tourism sector. R
30 The desalinator is powered by thermal energy from the waste incinerator created during
31the combustion process. This energy is used to extract salt from seawater, creating freshwater for
32municipal uses. However, all permanent residents that were interviewed reported that a cistern is
33their primary source of freshwater. St. Barth currently receives regular yet meager rainfall that is
34captured and stored under homes. In fact, many of the roofs in St. Barth have been constructed
35specifically to catch and store rainwater more efficiently. For many people, cisterns meet all of
36their household water needs. In the past, there were reported health problems that arose from
37drinking water from cisterns without a filter, but today the majority of residents have filters in
38place to clean the water before use.
39 The general attitude collected from interviews is that the people of St. Barth are not
40concerned with water security-- most people believe that as long as there is rainfall and money to
41operate the desalinator, freshwater will always be available. Because water is expensive, many

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1residents considered themselves to be “water-conscious” and choose to limit shower times, for
2example. By contrast, tourists tend to be more wasteful with water, using immense volumes for
3filling swimming pools, cleaning yachts, and other activities related to tourism.
4 In other cases, interviewees expressed concern that water scarcity could become a
5problem if rainfall patterns decrease in the future or, if patterns of growth and development were
6to continue unabated, the island would not be able to meet the demands of large hotels,
7swimming pools, thirsty landscaping, and an increasing number of large homes and villas. It was
8reported that the current water infrastructure is at its limit during peak tourism times, which may
9suggest that in the future the current freshwater production infrastructure will become
10insufficient.
11 One major component of the freshwater system in St. Barth is a reliance on bottled water.
12The consumption of bottled water is imbued in the culture. When questioned about bottled water,
13it seemed for most people to be a question of preference; people prefer bottled water because it is
14cold, has a better taste, and contains minerals. There did not seem to be any real health concern
15about drinking the water from the desalinator, though this warrants further research and
16investigation. While most people did not see a problem with bottled water consumption, others
17expressed concern that it creates social and environmental issues. For example, if a shipment of
18bottled water failed to reach St. Barth, the island would be left vulnerable and without a local
19drinking water resource. The price of bottled water will also continue to rise, which could in the
20future put financial strain on families. Environmental issues brought up by residents include the
21carbon footprint of importing water from France, Fiji, or other distant places. In addition, the
22used bottles create mountains of plastic waste which are incinerated. Not only is this more
23expensive (the more you burn, the more you pay), but the burning of plastic can release harmful
24—often carcinogenic—pollutants such as dioxins. Plastic waste also often finds itself in the
25ocean which is extremely harmful to marine biodiversity and ecosystems (Derraik, 2002). A
26newer field of research is focused specifically on the impacts of microplastics, defined as “small
27pieces of plastic in the millimetre to sub-millimetre size range, although it has not been formally
28recognized” (GESAMP, 2015, p.14). A recent report by the Joint Group of Experts on the
29Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) contends that “microplastics
30are ingested by a large variety of marine taxa representing various trophic levels, including fish-
31eating birds, marine mammals, fish and invertebrates, e.g. lugworms, amphipods and barnacles,
32mussels, sea cucumbers, zooplankton” (GESAMP, 2015, p. 30). The full extent to which
33microplastics are harmful to human health and marine organisms is not yet understood, though
34their effects are predicted to worsen as plastic consumption continues to increase.
35
36Energy
37 According to one resident, a private consulting firm geared towards climate change
38adaptation and low-carbon strategies called Carbone 4 conducted a study claiming that the
39average resident of St. Barth has a higher carbon footprint than the average American. This
40reality is created through heavy reliance on personal cars and scooters and energy-consumptive
41homes. This is especially true of tourists who expect a luxuriant lifestyle during their visit, which

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1fosters a wasteful attitude towards energy. For example, swimming pools are heated even during
2the summer, villas are built to have electrically powered windows, and people open their
3windows when the air conditioning is on. This ever-growing energy demand is met almost
4completely by fossil fuels which must be imported and stored on the island until the time of use.
5In 2008, there were two generators to power the island. By 2016, there were six with plans to
6build three more. In addition, emissions due to electricity have grown by 40% since 2001,
7requiring approximately 34 million liters of imported petroleum products per year.
8 Despite the environmental impacts of this system, the government has not chosen to
9aggressively pursue renewable energy such as solar and wind power. According to respondents,
10St. Barth has the financial means and resources to set a global standard for solar energy, and a
11complete energy transformation could happen in three years if the government would commit to
12the project. However, there have been expressed concerns about the aesthetics of solar panels and
13wind turbines-- residents and members of the government are worried that they would ruin the
14beauty and ambiance of the island. As a result, the government is not currently interested in
15large-scale renewable energy projects, but they would still encourage solar energy produced
16privately by individuals and households if a resident chooses to do so. Looking to the future, it is
17possible that this viewpoint may change as the technology of solar panels improves. One resident
18discussed the possibility of solar panels which could be integrated directly into the roofing,
19which would eliminate the aesthetic concerns and also prevent damage to panels in the event of a
20hurricane.
21 Other motivations may be at play-- there is currently a tax on imported petroleum,
22meaning that the government actually profits from the use of fossil fuels. Alternative energy is
23also much more expensive to install compared to the fossil fuel alternative. However, a recently
24commissioned study explained the potential for renewable energy on the island, the results of
25which are currently being discussed by the government. It is therefore possible that the future
26could yield more sustainable solutions to energy production in St. Barth, creating energy
27autonomy with fewer environmental impacts.
28
29Government
30 There was some degree of variation among surveyed residents regarding their opinion of
31the government and its attitude towards sustainability. Some people believed that the government
32wants to protects the environment, as evidenced by government-run associations to clean up
33beaches as well as their desire to maintain the pristine image of the island. According to some, it
34is difficult to obtain building permits and the presence of “green zones” prevents excessive
35development.
36 The more overwhelming opinion from residents contended that the government is
37allowing too many construction permits that create pollution and attract more tourists, or they
38believe that the rules for building permits are vague and easy to get around. It was noted in one
39interview that “under the table” deals have been made to allow for building in green zones.
40According to one resident who is involved in environmental activism, she will get calls about
41construction happening in green zones, though when she reports this activity to the government

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1they fail to act or enforce the zoning regulation. The government also boasts that 75% of the
2island is considered a green zone, though much of those areas exist in steep places where
3construction would not be possible in the first place.
4 It was very common for residents to say that they believe the government does not care
5about the environment or does not do enough to protect it, and therefore it has been in the hands
6of the public to prevent excessive development. For example, there were plans to build a hotel on
7Saline Beach, one of the island’s more pristine areas, but plans were halted due to an
8overwhelming public outcry. Frustration was a common theme throughout interviews, as many
9people know that the government has the financial means to promote environmental stewardship,
10but they often choose not to act because their priorities lie in economic development. A
11participant also acknowledged that they are only interested in tackling issues that have already
12happened, thereby they fail to anticipate future issues or to act in advance to address problems.
13 According to the president of the island, because St. Barth is a democracy, the
14government cannot deny people the right to live there or to build on their property. He also
15contends that their goal is merely to improve what already exists, rather than to build new
16infrastructure. They do not allow new roads to be built, nor do they do not issue permits which
17break up properties into multiple properties. In his opinion, the success of the island can be
18observed in its economic success and its social stability, and in his words, “pour l’instant, tout se
19passe bien”, or “for now, everything is going well”.
20
21Attitudes Towards the Environment
22 The residents of St. Barth place a great significance on protecting the environment.
23Schools promote environmental education as a part of their curriculum and take students around
24the island to pick up trash to promote environmental stewardship. Every year, there is an event
25called “St. Barth Clean-Up,” during which residents spend an entire day cleaning the island and
26picking up trash. This event is always well-attended, and it was reported that one year they
27disposed of nine tons of trash collectively. Residents even went so far as to say that if people do
28not have an environmental attitude, they would not be welcomed into the community. During
29interviews, it was common for people to say that protecting the environment is important for the
30well-being of future generations. Residents had a strong sense of civic pride-- they wanted to
31preserve the ambiance, beauty, and originality of the island which they recognized to be
32intertwined with environmental quality. Many residents spoke about the importance of younger
33generations which are often more educated about environmental issues, especially compared to
34older generations that tend to be slower to change their habits and mindsets. However, residents
35report that environmental topics are now more widely discussed in the community, and older
36inhabitants are beginning to adopt environmental attitudes. Finally, respondents mentioned that
37they believed their own health was connected to the health of the environment. For example,
38protecting marine ecosystems ensures that they can continue eating local fish that are free of
39contaminants.
40
41Discussion

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1
2Interpretations
3 This case study of Saint Barthélemy indicates that there are multiple factors which either
4motivate or discourage sustainable behavior. Based on testimonies from those interviewed, civic
5duty is a strong motivator of sustainable behavior. The French word for this concept, civisme,
6was often used by residents as they described why they thought it was important to participate in
7the waste-sorting regulation. Because of the island’s small size and isolation, residents feel a
8sense of connection towards other members of the community and to the island itself. Due to this
9connectivity, residents feel as though the decisions they make from day-to-day will actually have
10an effect on the well-being of the entire community. One anecdote that illustrates this idea was
11brought up by one participant, who stated that she ensures that her trash is always sorted because
12if she does not comply, someone at the incinerator will probably have to sort it for her (and she
13probably knows exactly who that person is). The community itself is not composed of nameless,
14faceless “others”, but rather they are friends, family, colleagues, neighbors. In order to participate
15positively in the community, residents are led to make sustainable decisions, one example being
16compliance with the waste-sorting regulation.
17 Simplicity is also a key factor to sustainable behavior in St. Barth. The process of waste-
18sorting is, for the most part, convenient and easy to comply with. Most human beings do not
19want to spend a large part of their day dealing with their own waste; they prefer for it to
20disappear as quickly and quietly as possible. Because there are only two bins in which to sort,
21because the process of having waste taken to the incinerator is not entirely cumbersome, and
22because bins have been placed relatively consistently throughout the island, it is not difficult to
23do the right thing.
24 In addition, the size of the island also facilitates rapid communication and
25implementation. For example, when the waste-sorting regulation was first instated, it was not as
26widely successful as it is today (Fielding, 2014). As a result, ads were run in newspapers and on
27the radio to educate inhabitants about the importance of compliance. This strategy proved very
28effective; the small, community-focused nature of the island was important to its integration into
29society. News and information can travel quickly, and because people are so connected to one
30another, it is easier for norms to take hold in their community.
31 Furthermore, St. Barth can be considered a very socioeconomically stable island. The
32island has no debt, there are no impoverished areas, and the majority of the population is well-
33educated. For this reason, residents can afford to think beyond short-term needs. Food, water,
34and access to education and employment are not the primary concerns of most inhabitants,
35therefore they have the time and resources to think about long-term issues such as sustainability
36and the environment. Caring about the environment is intimately linked with education about
37environmental issues. Because the populace is well-educated, there is a high level of awareness
38and therefore a desire to take action. The influence of socioeconomic stability can be seen with
39the well-attended event, St. Barth Clean-Up. Such an event would be far less likely to happen in
40a place where the residents are struggling to meet their basic needs each day. For example, in
41more economically depressed areas in the Amazon, it is often more beneficial in the short-term to

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1cut down forests to reap the immediate benefits of agriculture and commercial logging than to
2preserve the forest for its long-term benefits to water quality, control of infectious diseases, and
3ecosystem services (Foley et al., 2007). The government of St. Barth can also afford to invest in
4sustainable infrastructure such as a composting facility, a desalinator, and (potentially in the
5future) solar panels.
6 Finally, the island has an economic incentive to consider the environment. When tourists
7vacation in St. Barth, they expect a certain level of environmental quality, that is to say they
8expect clean beaches, clean water, clean air, and the appearance of an untouched, serene
9paradise. Even the government is beginning to recognize that a certain level of environmental
10degradation and excessive development will begin to deter their guests from coming to St. Barth.
11Therefore, due to the economy’s reliance on tourism, there are incentives to maintain the
12environment to meet the demands of tourists.
13 On the other hand, there are several factors that discourage sustainability in St. Barth. At
14present, the most powerful source of prevention is the government. Based on the perspectives of
15interviewees and from speaking directly with members of the government, it is clear that they are
16running the island like a business, or in other words economic progress is at the forefront of their
17priorities. It seems as though the government is only focused on protecting the environment as it
18pertains to the economy, and therefore they often overlook long-term needs in favor of short-
19term benefits. For example, they have done little to invest in renewable energy potential for fear
20of ruining the aesthetic appeal that is valued by tourists. However, this short-sighted view
21ignores the potential for the rising cost of fossil fuels, climate change, and the myriad
22environmental impacts of non-renewable energy which could negatively impact St. Barth in the
23long-term. It is also evident that development is often prioritized over conservation, as evidenced
24by their failure to comply with zoning regulations. This allows for short-term gains, but
25eventually excessive development will degrade the environmental quality of the island and create
26long-term issues such as biodiversity loss, pollution, and inability to provide resources.
27 Due to the rapid transformation of St. Barth, both culturally and economically, it has been
28challenging for some residents to keep up with the pace of change that has been occurring since
29the 1960s and 70s. Urbanization, modernization, and population growth have created new
30environmental issues that, before the “transformation”, residents of St. Barth did not have to
31face. Today, these changes put pressure on the environment, creating a necessity to comply with
32new regulations and to make general lifestyle changes. Often it is difficult for people to simply
33change their habits, especially if they have grown up practicing a certain way of life. Some
34people still burn their trash at home, simply out of habit. Other people do not see an issue with
35throwing an empty bottle directly into the ocean. It is reported that certain businesses will dump
36their liquid waste directly into the environment, rather than disposing of it safely and in a way
37that is not environmentally detrimental. The government continues to authorize the construction
38of more generators at the energy facility, rather than investing in solar panels. All of these
39examples reflect an attitude that should reside in the past. The sharp growth in population
40requires that each citizen of St. Barth think for the greater good of the community, for if even one
41person acts otherwise it could reverberate throughout the entire island.

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1
2Significance
3 Any community could be analyzed to determine the factors which either motivate or
4discourage sustainable behavior; the results of this study can be transferred to apply to other
5locations based on similar characteristics. Saint Barthélemy is a small, isolated, affluent
6Caribbean island. When considering sustainability in St. Barth, one must also consider these
7characteristics which inevitably influence how residents think about the environment and choose
8to behave on a day-to-day basis. I have explained how the size of the community influences how
9people view themselves within the community, an aspect of St. Barth which contributes to
10residents’ sense of civic-duty and pride. Other small communities, whether an island or not,
11could consider this factor to explore how the connection to the place and to other community
12members could influence sustainable decision-making. Furthermore, it may suggest that
13environmental regulations are better implemented at a local level rather than at a national scale.
14It is also worth considering the socioeconomic situation in St. Barth. Perhaps these findings are
15best applicable to more affluent communities where, as was shown, people are more likely to be
16able to think beyond their own basic needs. The isolated nature of the island also makes St. Barth
17more vulnerable to environmental hazards, and environmental issues are more likely to take hold
18more quickly and on a greater scale. As a result, it is even more important for issues to be
19addressed proactively, rather than reactively, a concept that could be applied to other isolated or
20island communities. This study has shed light not only on one island in the French West Indies,
21but by drawing connections with other places, can explain why sustainable behaviors can be
22incorporated into communities which share characteristics with St. Barth.
23 Island communities, with their limited resources and extreme vulnerability to
24environmental change, can be a microcosm for how everyone should currently view the planet.
25In many ways, the challenges faced by island nations like St. Barth are predicting the future of
26all communities. Limited space, finite water resources, waste accumulation, air pollution,
27overpopulation, and lack of energy autonomy are all issues that are exacerbated by the small,
28isolated nature of islands. But as the population continues to grow across the globe, these
29environmental issues will worsen everywhere. In the same vein, we can also look to how islands
30like Saint Barthélemy overcome environmental issues. They build and mobilize community, they
31innovate, and they recognize that even an individual’s waste-sorting practices each day can make
32an enormous impact.
33
34Acknowledgements
35 The authors would like to thank the Biehl International Research Fellowship program at
36the University of the South for its funding of this project. We would also like to thank the
37citizens of St. Barth who participated in this study and helped along the way, especially Ellen
38Lampert-Gréaux and Rosemond Gréaux who welcomed us with open arms.
39
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10
11Appendix
12
13Interview Questions
14How long have you lived in St. Barth?
15How has the island changed since you were born/since you moved here?
16Do you think that protecting the environment is important? Why or why not?
17Do you participate in the waste-sorting regulation at your home?
18What is your attitude towards this regulation?
19Is the regulation easy and convenient to comply with?
20Is it convenient everywhere, for example in restaurants, at beaches, etc?
21Do you think your attitude is the norm or the minority in your community?
22Do you think the regulation is flawed or has faults?
23Why do you think the regulation has succeeded here?
24In general, what is your opinion on composting? Do you think it should be important for St.
25Barth? What benefits would you receive from composting?
26Do you think that using waste to produce freshwater is the best system to address the issues of
27waste management and freshwater production?
28Are you worried that water insecurity will be an issue for St. Barth in the future?
29What will be the source of these problems?
30How have tourists and tourism affected your life?
31Do you think the government wants to protect the environment?
32
33Note: This research has been given IRB approval. Document number: 16S-24
34