The Agency recently wrapped up its fourth Stakeholder Engagement meeting as part of the Retouch Nexus Project, which promotes the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) approach. The two-day event brought together various stakeholders, NGOs, and public entities committed to sustainability.
The event began with a leadership training session by EMCS, encouraging participants to reflect on the qualities of effective leadership. Discussions focused on what is a leader and how to be an effective leader.
Following the training session, representatives from Greening the Islands, Water—Be the Change, WasteServ, Saving Our Blue, and Xummiemu shared insights into their campaigns. These initiatives, combining media outreach with practical interventions, aim to drive public engagement toward a more sustainable future. The scope of these presentations were to show to what extent these educational campaigns were reached, the results and any hurdles they faced along the way.
Greening the Islands has launched a web app that requires no downloads. It connects island governments, industry associations, corporations, academia, and others, enabling active participation in a sustainable community.
Water—Be the Change focused on rainwater catchment, pump fixing, and water-saving kits across households, agriculture, and the public sector.
WasteServ showcased projects like the new Ecohive Academy and collection campaigns (Ħġieġ Nadif, Separate Right Recycling, and Feel Good), contributing to:
- 31.5% reduction in household waste (black bag) since 2010-2013.
- 266% increase in recycling, and a 12% rise in organic waste compared to 2023.
Saving Our Blue, now in its 6th year, promotes reducing litter and plastic waste. The campaign also organizes beach cleanups, dive cleanups, and educational activities to encourage environmental awareness.
Xummiemu Tackles Illegal Dumping, Xummiemu, a long-standing advocate for environmental care, addressed pressing issues such as illegal dumping, city littering, and car waste. With 45 tonnes of illegal litter collected daily, the need for public cleanliness is urgent. Solutions include increased government investment in waste management and the establishment of a Parliament Secretariat for Public Cleanliness.
The success of these campaigns demonstrates the progress made toward sustainability, but continued public cooperation is vital. The Retouch Nexus Project remains committed to driving collaboration and progress in the WEFE sectors for a more sustainable future.
