Environmental education aims to raise awareness of environmental protection and sustainable development, and to encourage personal action and involvement.

Targeted environmental education work should enable people to take an active part in shaping an ecologically compatible, economically strong and socially just environment, taking account of global aspects. This happens through a variety of activities and educational measures about environmentally responsible behaviour, and schools and kindergartens have a crucial role to play.

The aims of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, 2005 – 2014, include strengthening existing networks, disseminating examples of Good Practice in the different educational sectors, and improving out-of-school and in-school environmental education and global learning in the context of education for sustainable development.

Hannover City Council and Administration has used a certified eco-audit system since 1998, one of the first local authorities to implement such a procedure and still on the European register of eco-audit organisations. Participating in a European eco-audit means, for the local authority, not merely administering it but setting an example in practice. A self-regulating environmental management system is installed in every section and operative service to constantly improve its internal procedures (e.g. on energy and water consumption, purchasing and waste, dealing with hazardous materials, health and safety at work).