Umhverfisstofnun

What Umhverfisstofnun does

Umhverfisstofnun is the Icelandic Environment Agency, a government state entity operating under Iceland's Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate (Umhverfis- og auðlindaráðuneytið). Headquartered in Reykjavík with 51-100 employees, the agency serves as Iceland's primary environmental regulatory authority, with statutory responsibility for environmental protection, nature conservation, protected area management, hunting and fishing licensing, chemical substances regulation, and climate change mitigation. Its mandate includes implementing EU/EEA environmental regulations including the Emissions Trading System (ETS) for industry, aviation, and international shipping under CORSIA, as well as REACH for chemical safety. Operating geographies are explicitly limited to Iceland.

The agency's operational portfolio consists of interconnected digital platforms rather than a unified commercial product suite. Core systems include the Gagnagátt (Data Portal) and Þjónustugátt (Service Portal) for permit applications, license renewals, and public data access; the Loftgæðamælir (Air Quality Monitor) for real-time air quality data; the Vatnavefsjá (Water Web Map) and Kortasjá (Map Viewer) as GIS-based information systems for water bodies and protected areas; the Losunarheimildir (Emission Allowances) system for ETS administration; and the Veiðikort (Hunting/Fishing License System). The agency also manages the Vatnáætlun (Water Plan) 2022-2027 and 2028-2033, covering all Icelandic water bodies. Underlying technology is environmental monitoring and regulatory systems with domain specialization and integration/interoperability as differentiators.

As a government state agency, Umhverfisstofnun does not operate on a commercial revenue model. It is funded through Icelandic state budget allocations rather than private investment or commercial revenue generation. Services include regulatory oversight, permit issuance, license administration (hunting, fishing, industrial), and environmental monitoring funded by government budgets; modest fees apply for certain permits, licenses, and administrative services, including the Veiðikortasjóður (hunting license fund). Customer segments span industrial operators (aluminum smelters, silicon plants, fish farms, pharmaceutical companies), the hunting and fishing community, businesses handling chemicals, municipalities and local governments, and the general public and researchers — a horizontally segmented user base without a single commercial anchor.

Name

Umhverfisstofnun

Legal name

Umhverfisstofnun

Website

https://ust.is

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Umhverfisstofnun is the Icelandic Environment Agency, a government state entity under the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate responsible for environmental protection, nature conservation, protected area management, hunting/fishing licensing, ETS administration, and chemical regulation across Iceland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Regulation Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Hazardous Waste Management (4955), Refuse Systems (4953), Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Agencies (BPAIAOAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Protection Agencies & Environmental Health Departments (HLAJAFAA), Facility Siting, Permitting & Land-Use Regulatory Compliance (Multi-media Permitting, Zoning/Entitlements Support) (EUAHABAH), Environmental Monitoring, Data & Reporting (Air/Water/Soil) (BPAIAMAC), Environmental Compliance & Permitting (BPAHAJAA)

Keywords

• Environmental monitoring services
• Air quality monitoring
• Nature conservation services
• Water resource management
• Emissions trading system

Headquarters

HQ city

Reykjavík

HQ country

Iceland

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Umhverfisstofnun is Iceland's national environmental regulatory agency that issues environmental permits, manages protected areas, administers hunting and fishing licenses, regulates chemicals, and oversees the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). It operates real-time air quality and water monitoring networks, provides public access to environmental data through dedicated portals, and enforces compliance with EU/EEA environmental directives including REACH and CORSIA.

Product overview

Umhverfisstofnun (Icelandic Environment Agency) is a government agency providing regulatory services, monitoring systems, and administrative portals for environmental protection and natural resource management. The agency's portfolio includes the Gagnagátt data portal for environmental data access, the Þjónustugátt service portal for permit applications, various monitoring tools including the Loftgæðamælir (air quality monitor), Vatnavefsjá (water web map), and Kortasjá (map viewer). The agency also manages the losunarheimildir (emissions trading system) and the veiðikort (hunting/fishing license) system. These products operate as interconnected government service platforms rather than a unified commercial product suite.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gagnagátt (Data Portal) A secure data portal providing public access to environmental data and information managed by Umhverfisstofnun, including air quality, water management, greenhouse gas emissions, and nature conservation datasets. Targeted at citizens, researchers, and organizations requiring environmental monitoring data.
• Þjónustugátt (Service Portal) An online service portal for submitting applications, permits, and managing regulatory matters with the agency. Used by businesses and individuals for permit applications, license renewals, and administrative submissions.
• Loftgæðamælir (Air Quality Monitor) Real-time air quality monitoring system providing current air quality information for Iceland, including pollutant data on particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide. Targeted at the public, researchers, and health authorities.
• Vatnavefsjá (Water Web Map) Interactive web map showing water bodies, water management plans, and water-related data across Iceland. Supports the Vatnaáætlun (Water Plan) 2022-2027 and 2028-2033 for water resource management. Targeted at water managers, municipalities, researchers, and the public.
• Kortasjá (Map Viewer) Web-based geographic information system displaying protected areas, nature conservation sites, and environmental monitoring locations across Iceland. Targeted at conservation planners, municipalities, researchers, and outdoor recreation participants.
• Losunarheimildir (Emissions Trading System) Emissions trading system (ETS) management including allocation, trading, and reporting of emission allowances. Covers aviation, industry, and international shipping under CORSIA obligations. Targeted at regulated industrial operators, airlines, and shipping companies in Iceland.
• Veiðikort (Hunting/Fishing License System) Online system for applying for and managing hunting and fishing licenses in Iceland, including reindeer hunting permits and various bird species licenses. Targeted at licensed hunters, fishermen, and outdoor recreation participants.
• Environmental Permits and Impact Assessment Services Regulatory service for issuing environmental operating permits, conducting environmental impact assessments, and enforcing compliance for industrial operations including aluminum smelters, silicon plants, pharmaceutical companies, and fish farms in Iceland.

Quantifiable outcome

• Manages Vatnaáætlun (Water Plan) 2022-2027 and 2028-2033 covering all Icelandic water bodies
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE): Finnish environmental research and regulatory body covering water, marine, air, and conservation functions. Comparable Nordic peer with similar EEA-driven regulatory obligations.
• Danish Environmental Protection Agency (Miljøstyrelsen): Denmark's national environmental regulator handling permits, nature, water, and chemical control. Functionally equivalent peer in EU/EEA context.
• UK Environment Agency: England's principal environmental regulator with statutory authority over pollution control, permitting, water resources, and conservation. Most directly comparable national environment agency in mandate and structure to Umhverfisstofnun.
• Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt): Austrian federal environmental agency with comparable mix of monitoring, reporting, and regulatory functions in a small EU member state. Closely comparable in scale and EU directive implementation.
• Norwegian Environment Agency (Miljødirektoratet): Norway's national environment agency overseeing pollution control, nature conservation, water management, and climate obligations. Highly comparable to Umhverfisstofnun in mandate, EEA-alignment, and Nordic governance model.
• Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket): Sweden's central environmental authority responsible for environmental permitting, nature conservation, water/air quality, and climate policy implementation. Closely mirrors Umhverfisstofnun's Nordic regulatory scope.
• Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA): Scotland's environmental regulator with integrated responsibilities for pollution control, water, waste, and natural heritage. Directly comparable in mandate and operational breadth to Umhverfisstofnun.

Broad incumbents

• European Environment Agency (EEA): EU-wide environmental information and assessment body providing pan-European data, indicators, and reporting. Operates at broader geographic scope but overlaps with Umhverfisstofnun on environmental monitoring and reporting.
• Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC): Canadian federal environmental regulator with comparable mandate covering pollution, climate, and conservation, but at much larger national scale. Useful as a broader-incumbent reference.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The largest national environmental regulator globally, with parallel functions in air quality, water, permits, and chemicals. Serves as a broad-incumbent benchmark for scope and data infrastructure, though operating under a fundamentally different regulatory regime.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/umhverfis
• Facebookfacebook.com/umhverfisstofnun

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Umhverfisstofnun