What is the initiative and where is it implemented (city or country, for example)?
With the increasing problem of climate change and the challenges it presents to the global population, many initiatives have been launched worldwide to promote environmental education and sustainable development. The city of Chefchaouen, Morroco, has opted for non-formal education to spread awareness about the problem of energy consumption and to provide opportunities for citizens to change their practices to reduce the negative impact on the environment. In 2016, Chefchaouen launched the Energy Info Centre (EIC). The centre was initially administered by two local organizations and switched to city management in 2018. The EIC aims to equip citizens with essential knowledge on the environment, allowing them to make more informed daily life decisions. The centre focuses on disseminating information on reducing electricity and water consumption and promotes sustainable energy sources and equipment and efficient management of household and industrial waste.
How was the initiative established? How was it implemented?
The EIC was first created as the Energy Info Point (EIP) as part of the Sustainable Urban Demonstration Projects (SUDEP), initiating the Chefchaouen Commune model as an initiator of citizen change in terms of sustainable energy management. This transformed into the Energy Info Centre in 2016. The EIC is well-equipped with thematically designed rooms to demonstrate good practices. Visitors can observe the test kitchen, in which energy-efficient appliances powered by solar heating are compared to non-energy-efficient ones. These include a refrigerator, oven, gas cooker and washing machine.
An essential aspect of implementation is communication. The EIC uses social media actively to provide accessible advice for the population; it includes video materials, campaigns and external links to useful websites. The centre also spreads information and resources through television and radio.
However, the primary means of education remains providing access to knowledge and tools to citizens and professionals who visit the centre, speak to experts, learn through observation and get more information on additional educational services on their topic of interest. Education on environmental issues and sustainable energy practices is conducted in French and Arabic.
Which stakeholders are involved in the design and/or implementation of the initiative? Which sectors do they represent?
The municipality of Chefchaouen's Environment and Energy Department is actively involved in the programme. The Moroccan Agency represents both public and private sectors for energy efficiency, along with Agence Française de l'Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l'Énergie and local non-profit organizations such as GERES, in addition to experts in sustainable energy consumption. The European Union and other partners (Nexans Group, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and the French Development Agency) fund the project partially. Coordinating advisers from local associations participate in centre management. Other stakeholders include the National Office for Electricity and Water; the Participatory Council of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Climate; and the Regional Council of Tourism and elected officials of the municipality and the local youth council.
What are the impacts of the initiative in terms of facilitating lifelong learning? Who does it benefit and how?
The EIC is in line with the city's long-term goal to become a more sustainable city by 2030. To ensure the centre's sustainability, the Environment and Energy Efficiency Service has created an Energy Office that has taken the responsibility of assisting the EIC with financial management.
The initiative has had a positive overall impact on the population in terms of facilitating lifelong learning by offering free education. Not only does the centre provide tools and materials for use on-site, but it also allows the residents to borrow educational resources and equipment such as thermometers, watt meters, temperature probes and thermal cameras.
The centre ensures increasing ecological awareness of city residents. Moreover, the EIC contributes to the development and improvement of energy consumption policies by collecting data on energy consumption and planning actions to control it. The campaigns organized by the EIC have resulted in better energy consumption practices, which is highlighted by reduced energy bills.
References
UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning. 2021. ESD Implementation in Learning Cities. [Online]
Available at: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000379535 [Accessed 1 December 2021].