The main objectives of APEIS include:
* To develop scientific knowledge-based tools and innovative strategy options to promote informed decision-making for sustainable development, for the use of policy makers in the Asia-Pacific region as a common asset in the region
* To promote regional cooperation and capacity building, so as to enable Asia-Pacific countries to formulate and implement their own policies for environmental management and protection that take into account their national circumstances, making use of the developed scientific tools and options, through participation and collaboration in the Project.
APEIS is a concrete regional initiative to realize the following part of the World Summit on Sustainable Development Plan of Implementation:
104. Assist developing countries, through international cooperation, to enhance their capacity in their efforts to address issues pertaining to environmental protection including in their formulation and implementation of policies for environmental management and protection, including through urgent actions at all levels to:
(a) Improve their use of science and technology for environmental monitoring, assessment models, accurate database and integrated information systems;
(b) Promote and, where appropriate, improve their use of satellite technologies for quality data collection, verification and updating and further improvement of aerial and ground-based observations, in support of their efforts to collect quality, accurate, long-term, consistent and reliable data;
Expected results include the development of:
* Monitoring methodologies and networks that cover environmental disasters and degradation, and make full use of satellite technologies
* A set of assessment models to assess and predict the trends of environmental emissions and natural resources, and subsequent impacts
* A strategic database and innovative strategy options for practical use of policy makers enabling informed decision-making

Governments:
Government of Japan - Ministry of the Environment

Major Groups:
Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Org (Australia)
Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (China)
Energy Research Institute (China)
Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research (China)
Institute of Subtropical Agriculture (ISA) (China)
Policy Research Center for Environment & Economy, State Environment Protection Administration (China)
University of Hong Kong (China)
Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (China)
Indian Institute of Management - Ahmedabad (India)
Tata Energy Research Institute (India)
Wildlife Institute of India (India)
Indonesian Ecosystem Network (Indonesia)
Indonesian Institute of Sciences (Indonesia)
Institute For Global Environmental Strategies (Japan)
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (Japan)
Kyoto University (Japan)
National Institute for Environmental Studies (Japan)
Universiti Putra Malaysia (Malaysia)
Institute of Geography, Mongolian Academy of Sciences (Mongolia)
Asian Institute Of Journalism & Communication (Philippines)
Korea Environment Institute (Republic of Korea)
Sangmyung University (Republic of Korea)
National University of Singapore (Singapore)
Asian Institute of Technology (Thailand)
Kasetsart University (Thailand)
Mahidul University (Thailand)
Thailand Environment Institute (Thailand)
Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Hanoi (Viet Nam)
Vietnam National University (Viet Nam)

UN System:
United Nations University (UNU) (Japan)
UNEP Division of Technology, Industry and Economics/Economics & Trade Branch (Switzerland)
Other intergovernmental organizations:
ASEAN Secretariat (Indonesia)
Asian Development Bank (Philippines)
International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (Switzerland)
Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research ()

Other:
McGill University (Canada)
Hiroshima University (Japan)
Keio University (Japan)