Set up in 1965 with responsibilities relating to the promotion, planning and execution of research into the natural environment. NERC supports several research centres and institutes, including; the British Antarctic Survey, the British Geological Survey, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory. It also supports several collaborative centres of subject-based centres for the storage and distribution of environmental data.

NERC invest public money in world-leading science, designed to help sustain and benefit from natural resources, predict and respond to natural hazards and understand environmental change. They work closely with policymakers and industry to make sure that the knowledge of the council can support sustainable economic growth and wellbeing in the UK and around the world.

NERC is part of UK Research & Innovation - external link, a new organisation that brings together the UK's seven research councils, Innovate UK and Research England to maximise the contribution of each council and create the best environment for research and innovation to flourish. The vision for these councils is to ensure the UK maintains its position in research and innovation. Natural Environment Research Council is supported by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), but funding decisions are often independent of government.