The Centre for Environmental Information was created by RREC in 2005 in Nizhnyi Novgorod for providing access on environmental issues and strengthening cooperation among regional stakeholders.

The CEI has created an easily accessible source of information concerning environmental matters for local people and organizations and organized numerous events addressing environmental issues:

• the international seminar «Improved environmental practices of regulation and control in the Northwest region of the Russian Federation». The seminar was run in partnership with the Federal service for ecological technological and nuclear supervision (Rostechnadzor) and the RREC, with support of the Federal Ministry for environment, wildlife management and nuclear safety of Germany and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
• the round-table discussion on « Interaction between local government institutions working on the regional Red book». As a result of these discussions, responsibility for the creation of a Red book regional committee for the preservation of the environment and natural resources.
• the workshop on «Monitoring the small rivers of the Novgorod area».

Additionally, CEI carried out different research activities:

• research of the possibilities for implementing projects in line with the Kyoto Protocol within the Novgorod area, and
• development of long term predictions (until 2016) to the dynamics and ecologically safe usage of woodland resources in the Novgorod area.

CEI helped 16 Novgorod based businesses to lessen the negative environmental effects of their businesses via provision of the following services:

• evaluation of the ecological and water-management activities of the specific company and their general environmental management;
• development and coordination of projects specifying the maximum permissible emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere and into expanses of water, and limits on the production of waste disposal etc.;
• drawing up statistical reports about the enterprise's usage of natural resources, prolongation of sanctions on emissions, dumps, and the disposal of waste.