Eco-Schools is one of the programmes recognised by the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005 – 2014), awarding certificates to thousands of schools around the world.
In 2003 Eco-Schools was identified by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a model initiative for Education for Sustainable Development.
The aim of the programme is to engage students through classroom study, school and community action to raise awareness of sustainable development issues.
[5][6] It encourages students and teachers to conduct research on the amount of waste, energy or water use at their school and work towards making it a more sustainable environment.
[14] Eco-Schools compensates for their CO2 emissions from their flight travels when they go to, for example, conferences and National Operator Meetings through the Global Forest Fund.
FEE has established the Global Forest Fund to help minimise the effects of CO2 emissions from the increased travel activity worldwide.
FEE is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation promoting sustainable development through environmental education, and is active in five programmes; Blue Flag,[16] Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE),[17] Learning about Forests (LEAF),[18] Green Key International[19] and Eco-Schools.