Despite regional efforts to cope with climate change, Caribbean islands like Guadeloupe are becoming increasingly vulnerable. As part of the TransformAr project, we’re trying to actively involve tourists to contribute to water conservation, one of the main challenges the island faces. Together with ADEME Guadeloupe, a local environmental protection organization, we co-organized a panel discussion and are conducting a nudging experiment to sustain food security and tourist infrastructure.
Vulnerability of the archipelago
Guadeloupe, like many Caribbean islands, faces high climate change vulnerability due to its geography, limited land area and reliance on tourism and agriculture. Combined with limited resources for adaptation, the island also struggles with biodiversity loss and water scarcity, exacerbating its climate challenges. How can we adapt to climate change and ensure the island’s long-term sustainability?
Reducing water usage by tourists
Every year more than 850.000 people visit Guadeloupe, and with an average water consumption of 84 to 2.000 liters per tourist per day, this poses a real threat to clean water availability. As part of one of the solutions implemented by the TransformAr project, we’re developing a nudging experiment together with ADEME Guadeloupe. This experiment aims to make tourists more conscious about their water usage and encourage them to use less water.
Material nudging kit ©Verhaert
In preparation for the experiment, we hosted a panel discussion on the engagement of visitors with various stakeholders of the tourism industry, like hotel managers, tourist accommodation owners and industry representatives. This event also kicked off the full-scale nudging experiment aimed at reducing the water consumption of tourists in Guadeloupe. This experiment involves a ‘nudging kit’, comprised of a shower sensor, nudging stickers and an informational brochure, to be installed in hotel rooms. These materials will remind them and give some tips to conserve water.
Kick-off of the full-scale experiment
If you spend just 1 minute less in the shower, you’ll save about 10 liters of water. With that statistic in mind, the potential of this experiment could already have a big impact on the overall tourist water usage. Having concluded the pilot phase in February 2024, the nudging kit has now been installed in about 100 bathrooms across the island. This full-scale experiment will run until August 2024 and give valuable insights into the effectiveness of nudging strategies in promoting sustainable tourism practices in Guadeloupe.
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