In pictures: a trip through Iceland, volcanic setting for a green-tech conference

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Our international correspondent Theo Reilly recently returned from a press trip across Iceland, from the coastal capital of Reykjavik to the glacier at Sólheimajökull, and the volcanic landscape in between. His lasting impression was that the landscape and renewable technology of Iceland made a very impressive setting for sustainability conferences. Below are his thoughts, accompanied by photos from the trip. 

Sólheimajökull glacier in southern Iceland

With a total population the size of New Orleans, Iceland is not normally pegged as an influential player on the world stage. It’s mostly an uninhabited country, with 60% of the population living in Reykjavik alone.

Icelanders are deeply attached to their wild, jagged land, and they’ve been busy about ways to make use of its resources. Geothermal power plants convert super-heated water underground and hydroelectric dams transform river power into usable energy.

Blue Lagoon geothermal spa

Since the 1980s, Iceland has been almost completely powered by renewable sources. It is one of only eight countries in the world to fully transition away from combustibles. 

The combination of utterly wild, dramatic scenery with advanced sustainable technology makes Iceland a strong contender for conferences in climate science, sustainability and cutting-edge tech.

One such conference is the Arctic Circle Assembly, which took place on 17-19 October. Held at Reykjavik’s most iconic venue, the Harpa centre, the conference was testament to how a dramatic setting like Iceland can enhance the experience of attending a sustainability event.

Arctic Circle Assembly 2024

Inside the multi-storey Harpa building

From the water that leaves the tap to the light in the hotel desk lamp, every resource is supplied by the landscape itself. Iceland is a reminder that modernisation can use our natural geology without depleting it.