A public policy expert, Srestha’s interest lies in improving environment and resource governance, and securing community rights through an interface of strong research and advocacy. She is the Director, Just Transition at iFOREST. Her current areas of work include climate change and just transition, mining and benefit sharing, environmental justice and participatory governance.
She has over 12 years of experience working with Indian and US-based environment and public policy think tanks. She has authored/co-authored several scholarly publications in her areas of work, and also engages in public outreach through her writings. She has also been advising policy institutions and government agencies at national and state levels. Presently she also serves as an Advisory Board member of Just Transition Initiative, a collaboration of the Climate Investment Funds (World Bank) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (US).
Srestha holds a PhD in Environmental and Energy Policy from the University of Delaware, and a Masters in Environmental Studies from Ohio University.
- Chandra Bhushan and Srestha Banerjee. (2021). Five R’s: A cross-sectoral landscape of Just Transition in India
- Srestha Banerjee (2022). Korba: Planning a Just Transition for India’s Biggest Coal and Power District
- Srestha Banerjee et al (2018). People First: District Mineral Foundation (DMF), Status Report 2018. New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment
- Chandra Bhushan, Srestha Banerjee and Ikshaku Bezbaroa (2018). Green Tribunal, Green Approach: The Need for Better Implementation of the Polluter Pays Principle. New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment
- Srestha Banerjee and Chinmayi Shalya (2017). District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Status Report 2017. New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment
- Chandra Bhushan and Srestha Banerjee (2015). Losing Solid Ground: MMDR Amendment Act, 2015 and the state of the mining sector in India. New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment
- Strengthen institutions, reform laws and streamline processes: Agenda for improving environmental governance in India, 2014, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi
- John Byrne, Aiming Zhou, Manu Mathai, Srestha Banerjee, Carolyn Luttrell, Wang-jin Seo, Helen Yane, Alissa White and Sharath Rao. (2008). Risk-based Ranking of Industrial Polluters in Delaware Using EPA’s RSEI Model. Report prepared for the Delaware General Assembly. Newark, Delaware: Center for Energy & Environmental Policy, University of Delaware
- John Byrne, Cecilia Martinez, Amy Roe, Joseph Pereira, Srestha Banerjee and Peleg Kramer. (2007). Minnesota Environmental Justice Project Final Report. Report prepared for the Headwaters Foundation for Social Justice. Newark, Delaware: Center for Energy & Environmental Policy, University of Delaware
- Srestha Banerjee (2020). Mining and Jurisprudence: Observations for India’s mining sector and regulatory authorities to improve environmental and social performance. Washington DC: Brookings Institution- India Centre
- Srestha Banerjee (2020). Regulatory reform for non-fuel minerals: Improving the post-leasing clearance mechanism. Washington DC: Brookings Institution- India Centre
- Srestha Banerjee and Chinmayi Shalya (2019). An inclusive and outcome-oriented framework for DMF planning. New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment
- Srestha Banerjee and Siva Karthik Valaparla. (2019). Transparency and public accountability framework for DMF. New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment
- Srestha Banerjee and Chinmayi Shalya. (2019). Delineating directly mining-affected areas. New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment
- Srestha Banerjee. (2018). Four years of the NDA Government: The status of green clearances. New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment
- Srestha Banerjee. (2016). Regulating small-scale mining of minor minerals: A comprehensive framework beyond environmental clearances. New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment
- Srestha Banerjee. (2016). Environmental governance: Two years of NDA. New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment.
- Srestha Banerjee. (2016). District Mineral Foundation: Intervention focus, planning dimensions and administrative imperatives. New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment.
- Srestha Banerjee. (2015). Pradhan Mantri Khanij Khestra Kalyan Yojana and District Mineral Foundation: A mixed bag opportunity. New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment.
- Srestha Banerjee. (2015). District Mineral Foundation: An opportunity to rewrite the contract between rich lands and its poor people. New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment.
- Srestha Banerjee. (2015). The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Ordinance 2015: Promoting short-term growth over long-term sustainability of the mining sector. New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment.
- Chris Slattery, Srestha Banerjee and Carlyn So. (2011). Guide to Deconstruction and Reuse: Green Opportunities in Growing Industries. Chicago: Delta Institute
- William Ritter and Srestha Banerjee. (2011). An analysis of urban ecological sustainability in Indian cities from the East Kolkata Wetlands perspective. Proceedings of the 2011 World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, Palm Springs, California. May 22-26, 2011. Reston, Virginia: American Society of Civil Engineers
- District Mineral Foundation funds crucial for ensuring income security in mining areas in wake of COVID-19
- Utilising District Mineral Foundation funds to fight the COVID-19 crisis in India: Current and future opportunities
- Use DMF funds effectively to fight hunger and child malnutrition
- Let people-centric natural resource governance be the new regime’s agenda.
- Districts must identify mining-affected people to keep DMF funds targeted
- Will the new National Mineral Policy ensure responsible mining?
- Should district mineral foundations be with state mining departments?
- Green clearances are being increasingly treated as a mere formality
- These are India’s richest lands inhabited by some of the most deprived people
- Poor despite Rs 5,800 crore
- Power Play: New Rules for NGT appointments will further complicate the already strained relations between the judiciary and the executive
- Tribunal on a tightrope
- Bastar beyond Maoists: tale of a rich region and its poor people
- Undermined: Ordinance to reform the mining sector will do more harm than good
- Chaos in reforms
- A $3 billion fund may aid India’s mining belt after virus havoc
- Environment Vs Economy: An Approach That Exposes India To COVID-19-Like Infections
- Mineral fund with Rs 23,800 cr can cushion Covid havoc in Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh
- DMF missed out on benefitting mining-affected people: CSE
- States utilising District Mineral Foundation fund fail to identify beneficiaries, finds CSE study
- NDA government green-lighted 65% infra projects; activists sound red alert
- India speeds up environmental approvals in industry, alarms activists
- Dirty labour room, broken beds, filthy toilets, no tap water … story of a primary health centre