Ananya Bhatia

I’m an Urban Planner and Climate Researcher based in Ho Chi Minh City, with ten years of experience in climate resilience across South and Southeast Asia. My work focuses on nature-based solutions, urban heat mitigation, and disaster risk reduction. After my Master’s in Urban Planning (2015), I worked on GIS and spatial analysis in Punjab. From 2018-2024 at IRADe, I developed heat action plans for Indian cities and expanded to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh with gender-sensitive approaches. Since 2024, I’ve been consulting with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center in Bangkok, leading capacity development programs across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. I’ve gained experience in climate resilience using GIS and remote sensing, integrating nature-based solutions with urban planning, disaster risk reduction, gender-inclusive climate action, and designing training programs for diverse stakeholders from government officials to communities. I’m happy to share experiences with early-career climate professionals, urban planners integrating climate into spatial planning, practitioners developing gender-sensitive interventions, capacity builders designing training programs, researchers bridging research and policy, and those interested in South-South knowledge exchange. I’ve worked on proposals for international funders, participated in COP events, published research, and managed multi-stakeholder projects across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Vietnam. My approach is collaborative—sharing what I’ve learned while listening to what you’re working on. I’m glad to have a conversation and offer whatever insights might be helpful from my experience making cities more resilient across Asia.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​