Leena Nandan: Leading India’s Climate Agenda

As Secretary, of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Leena Nandan is spearheading India’s fight against the climate emergency with the vision of striking a fine balance between the aspirations of the citizens and fulfilling commitments towards conserving the environment.

At the COP27 Summit in Egypt last year, Nandan emphasised the need to focus on adaptation and not just mitigation. She believes that adaptation lies at the heart of equity and climate justice.

“Mitigation is one part of the story - why should adaptation be its poor cousin? Countries are responding to the imperative challenge of Climate Change, but the issue of Finance remains,” she said.

Under her leadership, the MoEFCC is working on innovative financial instruments for funding climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in key sectors. The ministry is also working towards enhancing forest cover in degraded forest land through community involvement and ownership.

Prior to her appointment as Secretary of MoEFCC, Nandan was Secretary in the Department of Consumer Affairs and has also served as the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.

Nandan shares that during her stint in the Tourism Ministry, she prioritised rural tourism more because it allows socio-economic community empowerment, particularly of women. The ministry’s efforts, she says, gave impetus to rural homestays and put rural sites on the tourism map.

Leena Nandan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change