The Norwegian Polar Institute is organized under the Ministry of the Environment. One of the institute's main tasks is to provide advice to the management in questions relating to polar environmental issues and to administrate the environmental regulations for the Antarctic areas of Norwegian sovereignty or Antarctic areas to which Norway maintains territorial claims.

The Norwegian Polar Institute contributes to the website State of the Environment Norway in collaboration with other institutions organized under the Ministry of the Environment.

The Polar Institute is also involved in the websites Miljøinformasjon om Svalbard (Environmental information about Svalbard) and Miljøovervåking av Svalbard og Jan Mayen (The Environmental surveilance of Svalbard and Jan Mayen).