The objective of CEEED is to carry out its strategy for environment and development research in India in co-operation with other organisations, both domestic and international. The focus of CEEED's work lies in finding the balance between environmental conservation and socio-economic development.

As an independent non-governmental organisation (NGO) under the NGO partnership system of Planning Commission, Govt. of India and as a self sustained body CEEED has enhanced flexibility and avoids bureaucratic entanglements.The formation of a co-operative internal and international network of scientists in the field of environmental studies is a goal of CEEED.

The Center was established in2004. It has a permanent staff in Guwahati, Assam , including its founding chairman/director late Mrs Arati Hazarika renowned Layer and social worker. Its associate staff includes a broad network of university professors and researchers ,Medical practioners, govt. officials.

CEEED has established collaboration with numerous overseas research centers and groups including: the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP), the Southeast Asian Impacts Center (IC-SEA), the US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the OECD-Development Center, the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) in the United Kingdom, the University of East Anglia, the Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center (OECC) in Japan, the Asia-Pacific Network on Global Change Research (APN), the Pacific Council on International Policy, the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE), DIVERSITAS, Land-Use and Land-Cover Change (LUCC), as well as with universities and researchers in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, Philippines, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and elsewhere.

CEEED has experience in hosting international meetings and training workshops in Assam, India and also abroad.  In addition, CEEED's facilities for visiting scientists include computers, photocopiers, vehicles, and office spaces. CEEED can make arrangements for accommodation convenient to the Center, CEEED staff members are multi-lingual.

Current CEEED research areas include:

• Global environmental change comprising climate change, climate fluctuations and sea level rise
• Environmental impacts assessment (EIA)
• Bio-diversity, especially such ecological zones as mangrove forests, coastal zones and wetlands - including South China Sea project
• Environmental impacts assessments on energy, agriculture, health, land use, etc
• Environment and the minorities in the highlands
• Environmental management in development and socio-economic aspects of natural resource use
• Early warning system and natural disaster preparedness
• Assamese studies - cultural and historical research
• Development studies - poverty reduction and migration issues
• Recent developments in certain areas of medical science
• Spiritual development among youths