Attached to the Spanish Ministry for the Environment and Rural and Marine Environments, through the State Secretariat of Global Change, this body currently assumes the functions performed by the former National Institute of Meteorology (INM), an institution with over 140 years of history. Its aims are the development, implementation and supply of meteorological services of national scope and the thorough support of public policies and private initiatives contributing to the safety of persons and goods and the well being and sustainable development of Spanish society.

AEMET is the national authority on meteorology-related issues, including those related to air navigation.