Annanya Mahajan
Senior Research Associate, Environmental Governance and Policy
Annanya is a Senior Research Associate in the Environmental Governance and Policy team. Her work focuses on understanding the health and economic impacts of air pollution as well as studying how environmental governance can be improved. Her broader research interests include decentralised environmental governance and sustainable development. She has a Master’s degree in specialised economic analysis from the Barcelona School of Economics. Annanya previously worked at the Centre for Policy Research where she focused on studying the capacity of environmental regulators. She also worked at the Inclusion Economics India Centre where she was involved in broader development research surrounding local climate adaptation, capacity building and governance of employment, health and nutrition schemes.
Publications
Opinions
Adaptation and Resilience
Environmental Governance and Policy
Unified action needed to tackle extreme heat and air pollution
Annanya Mahajan and Tamanna Dalal
Mongabay | 25 June 2024
The combined impact of air pollution and heatwaves can be far more severe than individual impacts, as various reactions between heat and gases in the air can affect cardiovascular, respiratory and immune systems. Adopting unified protective health measures against both issues is crucial.
Books and book chapters
Adaptation and Resilience
Environmental Governance and Policy
Synergistic Impact of Air Pollution and Heat on Health and Economy in India
Abinaya Sekar, Rajat Sharma and Annanya Mahajan
Springer | 1 May 2024
The chapter, published in the book 'The Climate-Health-Sustainability Nexus: Understanding the Interconnected Impact on Populations and the Environment' (Springer), examines the combined influence of heat and air pollution their implications for global health and the economy.
Reports
Environmental Governance and Policy
Sustainable Solutions to Crop Residue Burning and Air Pollution Cycle in India and Pakistan
Bhargav Krishna, Babar Shahbaz and Annanya Mahajan
Council for Strategic and Defense Research | 22 April 2024
The chapter in the report 'The Air We Share: Towards Reduced Transboundary Air Pollution across India and Pakistan' looks at crop residue burning in India and Pakistan, presenting several sustainable solutions - shifting focus away from paddy and wheat towards other crops, coordinating across multiple stakeholders, etc.
SFC Perspectives
Adaptation and Resilience
Climate Policy
Energy Transitions
Environmental Governance and Policy
SFC Perspectives on Adaptation and Resilience, Climate Policy, Energy Transitions, and Environmental Governance and Policy
SFC
SFC | 19 March 2024
SFC Perspectives are intended to stimulate discussion by providing an overview of key issues and avenues for action to inform India's sustainable development trajectory.
SFC Perspectives
Environmental Governance and Policy
Perspectives on Environmental Governance and Policy: Systemic transformations to limit the health burden of air pollution
Bhargav Krishna, Shibani Ghosh, Arunesh Karkun and Annanya Mahajan
SFC | 18 March 2024
We, at SFC, view reducing air pollution not only as a technical challenge, but also as a structural one that requires re-thinking our approach and the institutions that are tasked with addressing it.
Opinions
Adaptation and Resilience
Himalayas: How Pattern Of Natural Disasters Leaves Locals In Cycle Of Construction And Destruction
Chetan Mahajan and Annanya Mahajan
Outlook | 11 September 2023
There is a pattern of natural disasters in the Himalayas, which leaves the local population caught in a cycle of construction and destruction.
Opinions
Environmental Governance and Policy
Three small steps can solidify Modi’s Mission LiFE—urban planning to behavioural change
Navroz K Dubash, Annanya Mahajan et al.
ThePrint | 4 November 2022
As India takes over the G20 presidency in December, LiFE offers a platform to promote individual-led demand-side interventions on the international stage.
Opinions
Environmental Governance and Policy
Why a Niti Aayog study on the economic costs of ‘judicial activism’ must be viewed with scepticism
Annanya Mahajan
Scroll | 8 August 2022
The report fails to make its evaluations in an unbiased and rigorous manner.