???aural:Bildanfang???Über den Dächern von Erfurt © Freia Willems-Theisen/Pixelio.de???aural:Bildende???

The decision to draw up a concept for the sustainable future development of the State capital, Erfurt, for the 21st century highlighted the fundamental desire to take part in "Local Agenda 21" as an action programme for the future development of the city of Erfurt as early as 1998. Since then, this programme has been joined by a plethora of tangible decisions that directly or indirectly consolidate the guiding principle of sustainable development.

The following are but a few examples of the projects that have taken place or are still taking place in Erfurt. They clearly show the spectrum covered by the guiding principle that people are working towards in the city in terms of Education for Sustainable Development. They include the municipality signing the Millennium Declaration in 2007, the decision to take account of the sun’s position in urban land-use planning and for a solar manual, solar and green house numbers, updating of the CO2 reduction plan, participation of children, for example, in energy saving projects in Erfurt’s schools, the children’s city map, the citizen participation budget and the family pass for Erfurt city families. A great many projects and contributions have been developed in the scope of implementing the UN Decade. Of these, 18 have been awarded recognition and have been included in the Thuringia plan of action. Of these, only six have received recognition as "Official Decade Projects".

Local Agenda 21 Erfurt uses the same basic name to implement numerous projects and measures that are defined on the one hand by the guiding principle of sustainable urban development as a communal task. On the other hand the many projects, measures and actions of the city’s schools and universities, in addition to those of the many private individuals, are the very embodiment of tangible implementation on the ground. Making them more transparent in order to act as a paragon for further development and to create synergies is an important focus for the future. Therefore top priority is given to improving publicity work and communication in the scope of and in the context of the content of the UN Decade outcomes that have been achieved.