NERI is subject to a diverse range of obligations which range from general maintenance and development of expertise and research, that enable NERI to fulfil their advisory role and servicing of authorities at a high scientific level, through to specific detailed tasks.

The main areas of expertise in NERI typically requisitioned by the Ministry of the Environment relate to:

• Aquatic and natural environment, including species herein
• Nature restoration
• Nutrient loss
• Environmental economics
• Monitoring
• State of the environment and nature assessment
• Air pollution
• Chemical analyses
• Environmentally harmful substances, incl. pesticides
• Genetically modified organisms
• Arctic environment
• Game management

Provision of research-based consultancy to authorities is divided into the following types of task.

Regular consultancy tasks

• Participation in permanent committees, expert panels, etc, both nationally and internationally (e.g. in relation to the Water Framework Directive, Habitats Directive, air pollution directives, or conventions, such as HELCOM)
• Inventories of e.g. emissions to air or nitrogen leaching from fields
• Regular reporting of data to e.g. the EU, international organisations (such as UNECE, HELCOM, etc)
• Development of management tools, models, analyses, etc for application in the implementation of e.g. EU directives.

Ad hoc consultancy tasks

• Scientific evaluations for use in preparation of legislation, EU-related questions and similar
• Scientific contributions to questions from the political arena, such as ministers, parliament, etc, as well as from the press
• Participation as scientific advisors in working groups, etc
• Consultation with regard to national and EU regulations, etc

Monitoring and data activities

• Scientific coordination and advisory services with regard to monitoring, including operation of national focal centres for data
• Method development
• Preparation of professional reports concerning nature and environment (link to monitoring reports)
• Actual monitoring of air quality, birds, open marine areas, etc.
• Read more about monitoring

Dissemination and knowledge transfer

• Ensure public access to quality-controlled nature and environmental data
• Dissemination of knowledge to various target groups
  • Scientific fora, e.g. via scientific journals and participation in conferences
  • Public environmental management in Denmark (Ministry of the Environment, including Environment Centres and municipalities)
  • Contributions to and support for teaching, incl. within Aarhus University
  • Popular articles and books.

In addition to the above more fixed types of service described in the contract, NERI is obliged to engage in other duties that the Ministry of the Environment may seek a solution for. This takes place via task-specific contracts.

NERI also provides research-based consultancy to clients other than the Ministry of the Environment, including other ministries, local authorities, private consultancy businesses, European Environment Agency, etc. Further details on consultancy.