Doctor of Social Sciences and Docent Tanja Joona has been appointed as a Professor in Arctic Sustainability Science at the Arctic Centre, University of Lapland from 8th of June 2026.

Tanja Joona defended her PhD thesis at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lapland in 2012. Her doctoral thesis dealt with the implementation of ILO Convention No. 169 concerning the rights of indigenous peoples and land use questions in Nordic countries.

Joona has an extensive researcher career at the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland. Her research focuses in particular on the sustainability transition in the Arctic, adaptation to climate change within a shifting geopolitical landscape, and societal resilience in relation to comprehensive security and security of supply.

In her research, she examines comparative legal and political aspects of Indigenous Sámi society and especially issues dealing with traditional livelihoods, energy transition, and other land use, international human rights law, and identity questions in the context of justice and equality.

Currently Joona is the Principal Investigator of the REBOUND project, a consortium funded by the Strategic Research Council of Finland (SRC) under the JUST TRANSITION program (2023-2029). Project focuses on just green transition, for example from the viewpoints of different forms of land use in Northern Finland.

Tanja Joona

Professor of Arctic Sustainability starting in June 2026, Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland.

  • Doctor of Social Sciences, University of Lapland 2012.
  • Title of Docent in Public International law.
  • Other key expert roles currently held: Member of the Board of Metsähallitus, Chair of the Arctic Working Group of the CPMR Baltic Sea Commission.