Opened the COAST Law Center: "An important milestone for the university"
The COAST Law Center will do research on legal issues related to the ocean, climate, and the green transition. The center was officially opened on October 28th at the Faculty of Law.
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“This is an important milestone for the university,” said UiB Rector Margareth Hagen during the opening ceremony.
In her speech, Hagen emphasized the importance of legal research in addressing the climate crisis and rapid technological development, which are putting pressure on societal structures:
“Law can no longer remain a supportive discipline. It must step forward as a driving towards sustainable development, she said.
She highlighted the need to develop legal frameworks that support green innovation and provide predictability for actors in the maritime sector.
“Improving the legal framework and infrastructure in Norwegian, Nordic and international waters is a crucial condition if we want to succeed with the green transition, ensuring clarity and predictability for investors also and stakeholders without such alignment.”
UiB Rector Margareth Hagen was among the speakers at the opening ceremony.
Knowledge Where It Truly Matters
Hagen also stressed the importance of being proactive in establishing feasible regulatory conditions, rather than waiting until innovations are already in place:
“Efforts to scale up green maritime technologies risk being delayed and fragmented”, Hagen warned.
According to Hagen, COAST represents a significant milestone for both the university and the broader academic and maritime community in Norway.
“With a dedicated focus on the legal frameworks governing the ocean, the marine environment, and maritime activities, the Centre is uniquely positioned to advance knowledge where it matters most.”
A Hub for Forward-Looking and Interdisciplinary Research
The opening of Coast Law Center was part of the Bergen Energy and Climate Law Days, held at the Faculty of Law on October 27–28. The conference brought together a wide range of international researchers to discuss climate and sustainability.
Dean of the Faculty of Law, Sigrid Eskeland Schütz, emphasizes that the center aims to create arenas for interdisciplinary collaboration, and contribute to knowledge development that is both academically rigorous and socially relevant.
“COAST reflects our commitment to addressing some of the most pressing legal challenges of our time – climate change, the green transition, and the sustainable use of ocean resources.”
The center aspires to be a hub for researchers, students, businesses, and government working on various legal issues ranging from offshore energy and marine biodiversity to spatial planning and sustainable business models.
“I look forward to seeing how COAST will grow, contribute and connect – locally, nationally, and internationally”, Schütz says.
Read more about the center's ambitions here: Establishing a center for legal research on the ocean and the green transition
Fra left: Sigrid Eskland Schütz (Dean at the Faculty of Law), Ignacio Herrera Anchustegui (Head of the COAST Law center), Ingrid Birce Müftüoglu (Research advisor for COAST) og Margareth Hagen (Rector at UiB).
