Did you know that Barbados is one of the most environmentally-friendly islands in the Caribbean? When it comes to sustainability, they're leading the way with the most progressive programs of renewable energy production, eco-tourism and environmental education.

But their environmental awareness isn't just a luxury it's in fact a necessity. Barbados is the fifteenth most water-scarce country on the planet, and due to its small size and large population, natural resources are at a premium. Want to know about the eco-initiatives happening on the island right now? Read on!

Solar Power

Barbados has typically imported its energy from abroad, which is very expensive and makes them dependent on fluctuating oil prices. Although it still imports two thirds of its power, the Government of Barbados has been campaigning in recent years to adopt more renewable energy practices.

Currently around 32,000 houses have solar panels installed on their homes to heat water (and why not when you think of all that glorious sunshine!?). Considering the entire population of Barbados is only 280,000 people, this makes them proportionally the second highest adopters of solar energy in the world!

Wind power generation is still some way behind, but a US $45 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank looks set to change all that. It is hoped that by 2029 30% of electricity used on the island will be generated from renewable sources.

Eco-Tourism

With many Barbadian?s relying heavily on tourism to make a living, it's reassuring to see that the travel industry is fairly eco-friendly. Many hotels on the island are Green Globe certified, such as Couples Barbados Hotel. This means they meet international standards for sustainable tourism regarding energy consumption, recycling waste and generating their own power. The Caribbean Hotel Energy Efficiency Action Programme also promotes similar practices.

Most people visit Barbados for its beautiful wildlife and scenery, and therefore the majority of tourist attractions are nature-based with no negative impact on the environment. These include releasing baby turtles into the wild, surfing on the south west coast and exploring the island on a National Trust hike.

Environmental Education

Considering the environment is such an important part of everyday life, it's no surprise that all children study environmental science at school. Additionally, the Future Trust Centre in St Lawrence, which was launched in 1995, seeks to educate children and young families about living sustainably.

The centre's philosophy is based around the three R's (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) and it offers regular exhibitions on alternative energy and composting. It also has an orchard of tropical fruit trees and holds demonstrations on how to build a tyre garden. This means islanders can grow their own fruit and veg even if they don't have a garden!

I hope you've enjoyed this post on eco-friendly Barbados. Have you ever been? If so, let me know in the comments!

Image: Future Trust Centre