The Vision of the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources (UCL ISR) is a world of globally sustainable resource use.
In pursuit of its Vision, the Mission of UCL ISR is to generate knowledge by supporting cross-disciplinary research approaches to promote the globally sustainable use of natural resources, with resources defined broadly to include abiotic, non-renewable resources, such as minerals and petrochemicals, biotic and potentially renewable resources, such as water, soils, forests and fish, and the underpinning natural environment and resource base that produces the whole range of ecosystem goods and services. 

The relationship between communities and resources is also a key consideration of the UCL ISR. UCL ISR has been established with a generous grant over five years from its Founding Sponsor, charitable foundation of the multi-national mining company BHP Billiton, BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities.