Dr Snjólaug Árnadóttir, Associate Professor at the Department of Law at Reykjavík University, has gained recognition both in Iceland and internationally for her research in international law, the law of the sea, and environmental law. She believes that the law can be a powerful tool for protecting both nature and humanity.

Her interest in maritime law was sparked during her studies in Gothenburg, Sweden.

I am passionate about using law for the benefit of nature and I believe we shouldn’t just be observers but active participants in finding solutions. My interest in maritime law was sparked during my studies in Gothenburg, Sweden. Part of that was a 15-credit course in the law of the sea that was unconventional in both structure and impact. We went on a field trip to a small island called Tjärnö where we spent nights mapping maritime areas with nothing but a compass. This side of the law was unlike anything I’d known before, and it captivated me completely.

Says Snjólaug, who has since then dedicated her career to the ocean and the legal frameworks that govern it. Snjólaug emphasises that the ocean is one of the most vital foundations of life on Earth, though its importance is often underestimated.

“Life began in the sea,” she says, “and we are an ‘ocean planet’. Seventy per cent of Earth’s surface is water, and the biomass of animal life in the ocean far exceeds that on land.” Yet humanity is already debating who should exploit the ocean’s resourceseven though we barely understand them. She notes that life forms based on chemosynthesis, not photosynthesis, have now been discovered at the bottom of the ocean, highlighting the limited knowledge we have about something we are already discussing for potential mining.

When it comes to disputes between nations, the ocean is often where they collide. “The sea is where states most often meet,” she explains. “There, the issues revolve around borders, resources, fisheries, navigation, environmental protection, and even wind farms or artificial islands.” She refers to a notable case in the South China Sea, where an international tribunal ruled that building artificial islands and using certain fishing gear violated the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. “The court found it was destroying the habitats of endangered sea turtles. It was a very dynamic interpretation of the law—keeping pace with modern realities.”

According to Snjólaug, the law of the sea can actually be more forceful than many other areas of international law.

International law is political and often hard to enforce. But in the law of the sea, you can take states to international courts. That means you can push issues forward including climate-related ones. As an example is the 2024 decision by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, which ruled that climate change falls under marine pollution. This means that emitting carbon dioxide even from land can count as pollution of the ocean. This could open the door to lawsuits between states.

In 2022, Snjólaug co-founded the Centre for Sustainability and Climate Law (CLoCCS) at Reykjavík University. “We want to bridge the gap between academia and industry,” she says. “We ask: how should the law be, not just how it currently is. Then we turn knowledge into action.” The institute works on research, policy advice, and education aimed at accelerating climate action.

She believes that global legal systems are undergoing a profound shift. She points out that neither the European Convention on Human Rights nor the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea explicitly mentions the environment or climate change. “Yet courts have now confirmed that a right to a healthy environment is implicit in human rights,” she notes, “and that states must protect the ocean from the impacts of climate change.” In July 2024, the International Court of Justice in The Hague went further, stating that states have extensive climate obligations under international law and may be held responsible for damage caused by inaction. “This shows that law can be a driving force when governments fail to act.”

Snjólaug believes Iceland is at a turning point. She warns that if nothing is done and emissions continue to rise, the Gulf Stream may collapse before the end of the next century.

There is a 70% chance of it happening if emissions continue. That would affect weather patterns, sea levels, and food security—here and around the world. This is not just an academic conversation.

Despite climate anxiety and fatigue, she sees hope. “In Iceland, we have a unique opportunity to lead in research and solutions. But we need to act before others resort to desperate measures.” She argues that we must tackle climate change with the same collective effort used during the COVID-19 pandemic and the fight to close the ozone hole. “It’s not enough to think in accounting terms and reduce emissions. We also need to prepare for life in a changed world.”

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