The German federal government set up WBGU as an independent, scientific advisory body in 1992 in the run-up to the Rio Earth Summit. The Council's principal tasks are to:

• analyse global environment and development problems and report on these,
• review and evaluate national and international research in the field of global change,
• provide early warning of new issue areas,
• identify gaps in research and to initiate new research,
• monitor and assess national and international policies for the achievement of sustainable development,
• elaborate recommendations for action and research and
• raise public awareness and heighten the media profile of global change issues.

WBGU publishes flagship reports every two years, making its own choice of focal theme. In addition, the German government can commission the Council to prepare special reports and policy papers.