Context E-learning on how to deal with the environment has a significant impact on strengthening the environmental culture and achieving the goals of sustainable development. The current study aimed at identifying e-learning components in general offices of environment of Northeast of Iran. Methods The current qualitative study was conducted on 18 elite staff from general offices of environment of Northeast of Iran by purposive sampling until data saturation in 2016. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews, the effective factors of e-learning components were identified, and then they were categorized and placed in the subtheme and main theme. Results The results of decoding and analyzing the content of the theme showed that the causative factors (design, implementation, evaluation, human factors, and management) and the underlying factors (learning culture, context, educational environment, and technology infrastructure) and environmental factors (structure and policies of education and technological culture) as factors influencing the identification of e-learning components by interviewees in the general offices of environment of Northeast of Iran. Conclusions The identification of the components of e-learning by environmental elites can lead to the localization of an e-learning model. Results of the current study indicated that more attention should be shifted by the general offices of environment from the traditional method to e-learning. Since the application of these methods can be considered as a learning complement by providing a positive experience and a long lasting and deep learning.