Maltese youth and the environment : a qualitative study

Abstract

The present study attempts to highlight the main processes of the acquisition and development of various environmental perspectives and puts forward suggestions on how youth can be better addressed in the light of the research findings. The present paper involved the use of a number of focus groups and a contextual study that examined the development of environmental education on the Maltese islands, considered the main local environmental issues and subsequently analysed the main causes and mechanisms that have shaped the development of the local environment and the Maltese people. An environmental perspectives model was designed employing the technique of graphical display. The research results indicate relatively low positive behaviour towards the environment.