Rostock has declared its desire to promote sustainable development by becoming a member of the Climate Union of the European Cities, as a founding member of the International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives and with the decision of the City Council to accept a Local Agenda 21 programme.

In May 1998 the city established a Local Agenda 21 Office and five persons were employed. In October the first "Future Festivity" of Rostock was held. Nearly 500 citizens and the mayor took part in this event. It was a cheerful start to the Agenda 21 process in Rostock. After several discussions the creation of working groups has been proposed. They should develop initiatives and encourage discussions on different fields of activities with different groups of persons in all quarters of the city. Some of the working groups have already been created and started the work, like `Women', `Development Policy', `Future of Jobs' and `Eco-Audit'. Others are still in preparation: `Mobility', `Environment', `Citizen's Participation' and `City's Quarter Agenda North-West and North-East'.

For the time being, the city has been working on a model project "Welfare oriented job creation programme" which use natural and city funds. The aim is to create 500 jobs especially for the long-term unemployed. This common initiative offers the chance to implement in a relatively short time some of the sustainable ideas and projects elaborated by the working groups and investigations, e.g. the reconstruction of school yards following ecological aspects, the regional marketing of native agricultural products or the reuse of old construction materials.