Avipsa Mahapatra

Avipsa Mahapatra is the Climate Campaign Director at Environmental Investigation Agency, a nonprofit organization that investigates and exposes environmental crimes and abuses around the world. With over 15 years of experience in the field of climate policy and advocacy, she has a strong background in climate science, cooling technology, natural resources management, and public policy.

Mahapatra has been leading global efforts to eliminate potent greenhouse gases used in the cooling sector, promote climate-friendly technologies, and expose the illicit trade in these gases. She uses rigorous data analysis, innovative investigations, advocacy, public campaigns, and partnerships to influence global, regional, national, and corporate actions that reduce hydrofluorocarbons. She also lead negotiations with UN, corporate, and government entities to shape impactful policies and legislation. She has led world-changing exposés of climate-crimes and been featured in the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Guardian, BBC and the Grist, among others. She is regularly invited by the public and private sector to speak at events across the globe on climate and cooling issues.

Mahapatra previously worked at the World Resources Institute, developing a framework for emerging economies to initiate emissions reporting programs, and at Development Alternatives, a leading Indian research and action NGO, managing a carbon-reduction and environmental monitoring program via a network of 100+ diverse civil society organizations. She was an official member of the Indian delegation to UNFCCC COP 14, and has also worked with the Earth Institute New York, WWF Norway, 350.org and PowerShift. She has two MS degrees, in Natural Resources Management and in Climate Science and Public Policy from Columbia University, and was a research fellow at Yale University for innovation in sustainable urban development.