The article analyzes the structure of the various problems, that are linked with environmental research and discusses the different roles of science in the context of sustainable development. Three types of environmental research are described: (1) system-oriented research, (2) human ecology as a theoretical framework, (3) research on environmental problems, that integrates processes in social and natural systems under a pragmatic view. The discussion comprises the two postulates of holistic and of transdisciplinary approaches in environmental sciences. It is argued, that integrative models for scientific results in environmental research have to be designed under a pragmatic perspective which is given by sustainable development.