Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources

What Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources does

The Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources (Umhverfis-, orku- og loftslagsráðuneytið) is an Icelandic government ministry headquartered at Borgartún 26, 105 Reykjavik, responsible for environmental protection, climate affairs, energy policy, sustainable natural resource management, environmental impact assessment, and heritage preservation. The ministry operates with approximately 16 employees under the Government of Iceland (Stjórnarráð Íslands) and was established in its current form on January 31, 2022, when energy matters were transferred to the prior environment ministry as part of a broader government reorganization. The current Minister is Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson, who took office on December 21, 2024 representing the Social Democratic Alliance.

The ministry coordinates with affiliated Icelandic government agencies including the Environment Agency of Iceland (nattura.is), the Icelandic Meteorological Office (vedur.is), the Icelandic Institute of Natural History (ni.is), Land and Forest (land-og-skogur.is), the Heritage Agency (minjastofnun.is), and Icelandic Energy Research (isor.is). Its operational portfolio spans environmental affairs, nature conservation, climate action, circular economy initiatives, energy matters, waste management, national parks, and protected areas. Public communication is conducted through official Facebook and Instagram channels under the handle @umhverfisraduneytid.

As a government ministry, the entity does not operate a commercial revenue model and is publicly funded through Icelandic state budget allocations. Its core services include policy development, regulatory framework administration, environmental certification (equal pay certification, environmental certification, Green Steps in government operations), grant administration, and implementation of EU-derived directives including CBAM and the Renewable Energy Directive.

Name

Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources

Legal name

Umhverfis-, orku- og loftslagsráðuneytið

Website

https://umhverfisraduneyti.is

Company type

Public

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources is an Icelandic government ministry overseeing environmental protection, climate policy, energy affairs, natural resource management, and heritage preservation for all citizens, businesses, and government agencies in Iceland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Environmental 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), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAMAD

Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation & Resilience Programs

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

SECONDARYBPAIAMAE

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

SECONDARYBPAHAAAO

Environmental & Energy Law

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Legal Services

SECONDARYBPAIAMAF

Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

Keywords

• Environmental policy
• Climate governance
• Natural resources
• Energy regulation
• Environmental permitting

Headquarters

HQ city

Reykjavik

HQ country

Iceland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

The Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources (Umhverfis-, orku- og loftslagsráðuneytið) is Iceland's government ministry responsible for environmental protection, climate affairs, energy policy, sustainable resource management, environmental impact assessment, and heritage conservation. It develops and administers environmental regulations, oversees climate action initiatives (including CO2.is), manages energy policy, and coordinates with affiliated government agencies. The ministry does not offer commercial products but provides governmental policy, regulatory oversight, and administrative functions related to environmental governance in Iceland.

Product overview

The Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources (Umhverfis-, orku- og loftslagsráðuneytið) is Iceland's government ministry responsible for environmental protection, climate affairs, energy policy, sustainable resource management, environmental impact assessments, and heritage protection. The ministry does not offer a commercial product or technology platform but rather provides government services, policies, and administrative functions related to environmental governance. Key operational areas include environmental affairs, nature conservation, climate action (CO2.is), circular economy initiatives, energy matters, waste management, national parks, and protected areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Environmental Protection and Climate Governance Services Iceland's government ministry responsible for environmental protection, climate affairs, energy matters, sustainable resource use, environmental impact assessment, and heritage protection. Services are provided to Icelandic citizens, businesses, and government agencies.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): U.S. federal environmental regulator. Comparable as a national-level environmental authority, though structured as an agency rather than a ministry and with a much larger operational footprint.
• UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA): UK environment ministry. Comparable as a larger national environment ministry with broad scope over environmental protection, climate and natural resources.
• European Commission DG ENV: EU-level directorate-general for environment. Comparable as the supranational authority that sets the directives the Icelandic ministry implements, and a reference point for capacity and scope.
• Environment and Climate Change Canada: Canadian federal environment and climate change ministry. Comparable as a national-level authority combining environment and climate mandates, similar to Iceland's consolidated 2022 ministry structure.

Others

• Environment Agency of Iceland (Umhverfisstofnun): Iceland's operational environment agency subordinate to the ministry. Comparable because it executes the ministry's regulatory mandate on environmental protection, permits and monitoring.

Direct peers

• Greenland Ministry of Environment, Nature and Energy: Greenland's environment ministry. Direct regional peer with very similar small-jurisdiction mandate over environment, nature and energy policy.
• Swedish Ministry of Climate and Enterprise: Sweden's ministry covering climate and environment. Comparable Nordic peer ministry with a similar mandate over environmental regulation, climate action and EU directive implementation.
• Danish Ministry of the Environment: Denmark's environmental ministry with mandate over climate, nature and environmental protection. Nordic peer with closely aligned climate-policy and EU-implementation focus.
• Finnish Ministry of the Environment: Finnish environment ministry handling environmental protection, climate, housing and built environment. Direct Nordic peer with overlapping climate, conservation and EU implementation responsibilities.
• Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment: Norway's equivalent environment and climate ministry. Directly comparable as a Nordic national government ministry responsible for climate policy, environmental protection and natural resource administration.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/umhverfisraduneytid
• Instagraminstagram.com/umhverfisraduneytid
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ministry-for-the-environment-and-natural-resources

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources