Long-term economic and social development can only succeed if there is simultaneously sustainable conservation of the environment and natural resources. Nevertheless, the environmental aspect is often accorded a lower priority whenever there is a perceived or actual conflict with economic goals. The consequences are environmental pollution, wastage of resources and harmful emissions.

The negative impact on basic natural resources and therefore on long-term development opportunities often only becomes evident after some considerable time. One objective of GIZ is to advise developing and emerging countries on the development of efficient institutional structures in the environmental field and forward-looking and preventive environmental policy.