CESAM’s mission is to develop leading international research on environmental sciences and related risks, including extreme weather events and climate change, with emphasis on complex socio-ecological coastal systems and marine areas. The main objective is to promote a more efficient use of terrestrial and aquatic (from catchment to the deep sea) environmental resources and a more competitive, resilient and sustainable economy; designed to endorse job creation and assure territorial and social cohesion.

CESAM focuses on the key priorities of the European 2020 strategy addressing climate action, environmental integrity, resilience and sustainability (SC5), and optimal and renewable use of biological resources (SC2), as they encompass areas where CESAM has clear scientific competences, aligned with knowledge transfer to the market.