Environmental awareness:

It means knowledge and understanding of the impacts on and threats to the environment in the present time and for future generations as a result of certain activities. It should have as its objective the modification of behaviour in relation to the environment.

Education for sustainable development:

It is closely linked to environmental awareness since it is a learning process that increases people's knowledge and awareness about the environment and associated challenges. it should be integrated into the entire system of formal education at all levels to provide the necessary knowledge, understanding, values and skills needed by civil society to make informed decisions and take responsible action.

Schools have a key role to play in helping to instil a sense of environmental awareness and responsibility at an early age. Delivering basic environmental knowledge is an indispensable element of capacity building for public participation and access to environmental information.

Public participation in decision making:

This is the phenomenon to involve the activity of members of the public in partnership with public authorities to reach an optimal result in decision making. There is no set formula for this, but at a minimum, it requires effective notice, adequate information, proper procedures and appropriate consideration of the outcome of public participation. The public concerned should be involved in decision making: relating to specific activities; concerning plans, programmes and policies; during the preparation of executive regulations and/or generally applicable legally binding normative instruments. (Aarhus Convention)