Himangana Gupta is a Research Fellow and Academic Associate for the Strategic Programme and OUIK at UNU-IAS. She has worked on climate change and biodiversity policy and diplomacy, and is currently working on linkages between biodiversity, climate, and communities in socio-ecological production landscapes. Prior to joining UNU-IAS, she was a part of the National Communication Cell (NATCOM) of the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Her position as a Programme Officer at NATCOM Cell involved coordination with scientists, climate experts, and other ministries to compile India’s National Communications to the UNFCCC. She contributed to India’s Second Biennial Update Report and several other publications of the ministry. She is also a Climate Adaptation Finance Fellow of the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, Germany since September 2018.
She has a doctorate in environment science with a specialisation in climate change and biodiversity policy, and excelled in her Master of Science degree, receiving a University Gold Medal. She was an expert reviewer of the IPCC AR5 WGII report and IPCC Special Report on impacts of 1.5°C, and has published two edited books with Springer. She has also written research papers in reputed international and national journals on the current state of climate negotiations, forestry, industrial efficiency, rural livelihoods, and women in climate change mitigation and adaptation. She has presented her research at various national and international forums.