The overall purpose of R&D activities of CED is to broaden the knowledge-base on environmental sciences leading to environment management and sustainable development of the country – in its economic, technological, social, political and ecological aspects – from a broad inter- disciplinary perspective to gain insights and to disseminate the knowledge so gathered.CED is engaged in research activities in subjects related to each Program Areas and Sub Programs.

The uniqueness of research activities at CED is that it always engage in  interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research and involving researchers across the different Program Areas.