GDRC's 15 programmes, aligned around the five spheres of Environment, Urban, Community, Economy, and Information, is in itself, a study of sustainable development. Its research outputs/outcomes and its activities lead to sustainability, directly or indirectly - particularly through online learning, awareness raising, and capacity building.

Presented below, in alphabetical order, are some of the themes and topics covered by GDRC. Inevitably, there is a certain degree of repetition and overlap in the list, but it does provide an interesting insight into the myriad range of issues that gets bracketed under sustainability (and yes, many topics are also missing from the list!)