The UNU Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) seeks to advance knowledge and promote learning for policy making to meet the challenges of environmentally sustainable development. The research programmes in the Institute analyse local, regional and global environmental issues from inter- and multi-disciplinary perspectives, bringing together the natural, social and life sciences.

The current priority areas of UNU-IAS research are:

1. Environmental sustainability and governance
2. Education, sustainability and ecosystem assessment
3. Science and technology for sustainable societies
4. Sustainable urban futures
5. Traditional knowledge