Seita Vesa

Dr. Seita Vesa is a Professor of Environmental Law (with a focus on sustainability transformation) at the University of Eastern Finland’s Center for Climate Change, Energy, and Environmental Law (CCEEL) and a Research Professor at the Finnish Environment Institute’s Climate Solutions Unit (SYKE).

Within UEF Law School, Professor Vesa serves as both the Head of Research and the Head of the UEF Doctoral Programme in Law. Their extensive academic research portfolio covers a range of topics in international and EU environmental and climate law. This includes the legal framework of the LULUCF and effort sharing sectors, renewable energy, forests and bioenergy, sustainability transitions and transformation, environmental protection, and Arctic environmental law. Their theoretically oriented research explores the capacities of law in sustainability transition and transformation, and decarbonization, particularly in the context of environmental and climate law, the evolution of EU climate law, and its intersections with fields like environmental and energy law. They also focus on the nexus between law and science, emphasizing various aspects of legitimacy.

Professor Vesa is actively involved in research projects and serves as co-PI for SRC RELIEF from 2023 onwards. They also contribute to UEF’s strategic research as Vice Director for one of UEF RC’s initiatives, RESOURCE, which aims to foster a Sustainable Resource Society centered on Circular Economy, Energy, and Raw Materials.

Their teaching portfolio primarily focuses on EU environmental and climate law, and they supervise both PhD researchers and Master’s students. They have extensive experience in the development and management of international master’s programs.

Beyond their academic work, Professor Vesa has engaged extensively in international collaboration, including research, teaching, and project work. They hold expert positions in various national and international working and steering groups and have been appointed to scientific evaluation panels. Additionally, they offer their expertise as a consultant in environmental law.