The Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law
Our Research
The Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law (NIEM) conducts research broadly on international environmental law and human rights law as they apply to the Arctic. More specifically, NIEM focuses on Arctic environmental governance with special reference to climate change, climate justice, human rights and climate litigation, biodiversity and the law of the sea as it applies to Arctic marine areas.
NIEM’s research portrays the Arctic and its linkages with other Polar regions as part of the global environmental systems, particularly concerning the impacts of climate change. Over the years, NIEM has extensively also developed expertise in human rights law applicable to the Arctic Indigenous peoples and their participatory role in Arctic governance.
Research at the Institute also considers the implications of the dynamics of Arctic change and resulting geopolitical dimensions shaping concerns for both hard and soft security in the region.
Research Team and Networks
The Institute provides its expertise to the Advisory Board on International Human Rights Affairs, an independent consultative organization on human rights issues, appointed by the Government of Finland.
Established in 1985, NIEM accommodates researchers at various levels, including senior and doctoral researchers. NIEM collaborates nationally and globally with scholars on issues related to the circumpolar Arctic and other polar regions, including the Third Pole.
NIEM hosts the UArctic Thematic Network of Arctic Law and the UArctic Chair in Arctic Legal Research and Education. NIEM, in cooperation with the UArctic, publishes the annual Current Developments in Arctic Law and hosts its own research publication, Juridica Lapponica.
The institute is led by Research Professor Kamrul Hossain.