Tiina Paloniitty

Tiina Paloniitty is Associate Professor of Environmental and Sustainability Law at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Law (Vaasa unit) and Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS). She serves as Chair of the Board of the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law, member of the Journal of Environmental Law's Editorial Board, and member of the Finnish Nature Panel. Her academic work bridges environmental science and law with particular focus on aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity governance.

Dr. Paloniitty's research interests center on the complex interplay between environmental science and legal frameworks. She specializes in EU environmental law, sustainability transitions, water governance, biodiversity protection, and the regulation of emerging environmental challenges like carbon capture and utilization. Her work critically examines how legal systems can effectively incorporate scientific knowledge while addressing uncertainties in environmental decision-making. She has made significant contributions to understanding the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, agricultural runoff regulation, and the role of procedural rights in environmental governance.

Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on the legal dimensions of sustainability transitions, particularly examining carbon capture and utilization value chains within EU climate law frameworks. She has pioneered research on how scientific uncertainty affects judicial review of environmental decisions, with notable work on the Habitats Directive implementation across EU member states. Her scholarship demonstrates increasing attention to systemic approaches that integrate climate, biodiversity, and water governance frameworks.

• Vuoden väittelijä 2018 (2019)

Dr. Paloniitty actively supervises six doctoral researchers and teaches national environmental law at the Vaasa unit and sustainability law at both Helsinki and Vaasa units. She leads the sustainability law research seminar and has secured significant research funding, including Business Finland projects Bio-CCU (2022-2024) and Circular Economy of Water in Industrial Processes (2021-2023). Her research collaborations span multiple disciplines and institutions, reflecting her commitment to transdisciplinary approaches to environmental governance challenges.

Dr. Paloniitty plays leadership roles in several research communities, including the Finnish Nature Panel (2024-2027) and the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law. Her work with the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS) positions her at the intersection of cutting-edge sustainability research and legal scholarship, where she contributes to developing practical legal frameworks for Finland's transition to a carbon-neutral welfare state.