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{{Short description|Indian social entrepreneur}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Himanshu Gupta
| image = OH3 1589 (53336069264) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Gupta in 2023
| known_for = [[Forbes 30 Under 30|Forbes 30 Under 30 India]] (2016)<br />[[Energy policy of India]]
| alma mater = [[Stanford Graduate School of Business]], [[Stanford University School of Engineering]], [[Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur]]
| website = {{URL|http://climate.ai}} (CEO/Co-founder)
}}

'''Himanshu Gupta''' is an [[Indian Americans|Indian American]] [[climate policy]] expert, engineer and [[entrepreneur]]. He is the co-founder and [[chief executive officer]] of [https://climate.ai/ ClimateAI], a climate adaptation technology company recognized by [[Time (magazine)|Time magazine]] as one of the best inventions in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-10 |title=ClimateAi Forecasting Tool: The 200 Best Inventions of 2022 |url=https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2022/6229921/climateai-forecasting-tool/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Time |language=en}}</ref> Gupta was elected as a [https://www.weforum.org/press/2025/04/from-grammy-award-winning-artist-to-unicorn-founders-meet-the-young-global-leaders-class-of-2025/ Young Global Leader] by the World Economic Forum and was awarded the [[UP Gaurav Samman]], the highest civilian honor<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-01-25 |title=Six luminaries honoured with UP Gaurav Samman on UP Diwas |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/six-luminaries-honoured-with-up-gaurav-samman-on-up-diwas/articleshow/117534656.cms |access-date=2025-05-21 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> by his home state in India, presented jointly by the Vice President of India and Chief Minister [[Yogi Adityanath]]. [[Insider (magazine)|Insider Magazine]] named him among the top 100 global leaders in AI.<ref>{{Cite web |last=INSIDER |title=The AI 100 2023: The top people in artificial intelligence |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-ai-100-2023-the-people-who-make-ai-intelligent-2023-10 |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> He is known for conceiving influential ideas in climate adaptation, such as adaptation credits and supply chain climate adaptation plans.<ref name=":1" />

Gupta held roles from 2011 onwards for the [[Government of India]] in the energy sector, specializing in renewable and low carbon energy. In 2012, he drafted and created India's Renewable Energy Chapter in its [[Five-Year Plans of India|National Five Year Plan]], probably the youngest person to do so.<ref>{{cite web |title=Himanshu Gupta |url=https://www.climatecollege.unimelb.edu.au/speaker/himanshu-gupta |website=www.climatecollege.unimelb.edu.au}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sustainable lifestyle to save the planet |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2014/columnists/sustainable-lifestyle-to-save-the-planet.html |website=The Pioneer |language=en}}</ref> In 2016, Himanshu was included in the prestigious [[Forbes 30 Under 30]] India list for his work in energy and climate change space in India.<ref>{{cite web |title=30 Under 30: Himanshu Gupta & Shrey Goyal - Kicking The Carbon Habit |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/30-under-30/30-under-30-himanshu-gupta-shrey-goyal-kicking-the-carbon-habit/42277/1 |website=Forbes India |language=en}}</ref> He then went onto work with [[Al Gore]] as an expert on India's climate policy and co-authored a paper with [[Nicholas Stern]] and [[Montek Singh Ahluwalia]] on India's low carbon future. He then co-founded ClimateAI in 2017, which has currently raised $38 million and models the risk of climate change on supply chains.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The AI 100 2023: The top people in artificial intelligence |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-ai-100-2023-the-people-who-make-ai-intelligent-2023-10 |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2023, he was named one of the top 100 people in Artificial Intelligence by Business Insider<ref>{{Cite web |title=The AI 100 2023: The top people in artificial intelligence |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-ai-100-2023-the-people-who-make-ai-intelligent-2023-10 |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> for his groundbreaking work on applying AI to climate adaptation solutions. Gupta was interviewed at World Economic Forum Davos on Applications of AI to [[food]] and [[water security]]<ref name=":1">{{Citation |title=Problem solving food insecurity {{!}} Himanshu Gupta {{!}} CEO & Founder of Climate AI {{!}} Davos 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0c4o5N79BI |access-date=2023-12-18 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=The Role of AI in Water Security {{!}} Himanshu Gupta - ClimateAi {{!}} Hub Culture Studio Davos 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuwThCzhHrU |access-date=2023-12-18 |language=en}}</ref> and believes AI is a time and effectiveness multiplier for solutions to climate change.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramirez |first=Clare Duffy, Rachel |date=2023-11-26 |title=How AI could power the climate breakthrough the world needs {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/26/tech/ai-climate-solutions/index.html |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Gupta had a humble start to life, he was born and raised in [[Vrindavan]], [[India]]. In interviews, he recalled the effects of [[drought]]s and [[monsoon]]s had on his town while he was growing up. It played a major role in him becoming involved in [[climate change|climate action]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Aziz |first1=Afdhel |title=How ClimateAi Is Working With Companies To Accelerate Climate Resilience In Mission-Critical Supply Chains |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/afdhelaziz/2022/07/19/how-climate-ai-is-working-with-companies-to-accelerate-climate-resilience-in-mission-critical-supply-chains/ |work=[[Forbes]] |date=19 July 2022}}</ref>

He studied in India and completed his undergraduate education in [[Electrical Engineering]] from [[Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur]] in 2009. He was a resident in [[Azad Hall]] and was actively involved in Dramatics and Technology societies.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

==Career==
===Early career===
Following on from his educational focus on electrical engineering, Gupta secured a role with AREVA T&D,<ref name=businessstandard>{{cite web |last1=Mukul |first1=Jyoti |title=Despite low pay, govt internship high on young Turks' wish list |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/despite-low-pay-govt-internship-high-on-young-turks-wish-list-113050700050_1.html |publisher=[[Business Standard]] |date=7 May 2013}}</ref> which later became [[Alstom]]. It was a company in [[India]] that specialized in the manufacturing and installation of [[electrical substation]]s and smart grids. In May 2011, Gupta took a sizeable pay cut to begin working for the [[Indian government]], as the country increased its focus on [[clean energy]]. This began with [[India]]'s creation of a National Clean Energy Fund in 2011,<ref>{{cite web |title=Creation of National Clean Energy Fund |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=71517 |publisher=Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (India) |date=6 April 2011}}</ref> with him remaining in that role until 2013.<ref name=lse>{{cite web |title=Himanshu Gupta |url=https://www.lse.ac.uk/GranthamInstitute/profile/himanshu-gupta/ |website=Grantham Research Institute on climate change and the environment}}</ref> His main role during this period was with the Indian Planning Commission, to oversee certain projects.<ref name=businessstandard />

India's increased focus on clean energy and Gupta's role for the Planning Commission's renewable energy division meant his level of responsibility increased quickly. In 2012, he was tasked with drafting and creating the countries Renewable Energy Chapter in its twelfth [[Five-Year Plans of India|National Five Year Plan]]. He also authored a second section of the five-year plan on [[research & development]] for India's energy sector.<ref name=businessstandard /> This work on the [[Five-Year Plans of India|National Five Year Plan]] made him the youngest lead.<ref>{{cite web |title=Australia Broadcasting Corporation asks Himanshu Gupta on India's Energy Security |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB2bcfNboo4 |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> His work with the [[Government of India]] continued into 2014, where he was the project leader for the India Energy Security Scenarios 2047 report, under the guidance of [[Montek Singh Ahluwalia]]. The year 2047 is seen as symbolic for India, as it is the year it will celebrate 100 years of independence.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Singh |first1=Sudheer Pal |title=Can India halve oil import dependence by 2030? |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/can-india-cut-down-its-oil-import-dependence-by-a-half-by-2030-115040800227_1.html |publisher=[[Business Standard]] |date=8 April 2015}}</ref> As part of the work on India's policy on energy security, Gupta organised both multilateral and bilateral dialogues with [[United States Department of Energy|US Department of Energy]] and the [[Department of Energy and Climate Change|UK Department of Energy and Climate Change]].<ref name=lse />

===ClimateAI===
In 2015, Gupta joined the [[Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment]] to work with [[Nicholas Stern|Lord Nicholas Stern]] on a research paper for India's transition to low carbon energy.<ref name=lse /> A number of conclusions were drawn from the paper, including that India needed to reduce its energy intensity in order to meet global targets to keep the Earth below a 2 °C temperature rise. Gupta also studied the importance of energy pricing and how it could impact on the speed of adoption of greener technology and fuels.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ahluwalia |first1=Montek |last2=Gupta |first2=Himanshu |last3=Stern |first3=Nicholas |title=A more sustainable energy strategy for India |url=https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/publication/a-more-sustainable-energy-strategy-for-india/ |publisher=[[London School of Economics]] |date=July 2016}}</ref> Around the same period, Gupta co-founded the [[NGO]], Sustainable Growth Initiative (SGI), to help businesses and governments reduce their [[carbon footprint]]s and increase energy security.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sustainable energy policy needed |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2014/columnists/sustainable-energy-policy-needed.html |publisher=[[The Pioneer (India)]] |date=5 May 2014}}</ref> His work with SGI and his business partner Shrey Goyal led to him featuring in [[Forbes India]]'s 30 Under 30 list in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Panchal |first1=Salil |title=30 Under 30: Himanshu Gupta & Shrey Goyal - Kicking the carbon habit |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/30-under-30/30-under-30-himanshu-gupta-shrey-goyal-kicking-the-carbon-habit/42277/1 |work=[[Forbes India]] |date=17 February 2016}}</ref>

Gupta then moved to [[Stanford University]] in 2015 to study his MBA. Gupta worked with [[Al Gore]] for a short period during the same year as an expert on India's energy and climate policy.<ref name=climateai>{{cite web |last1=Jai |first1=Shreya |title=When Iron Man backed agri start-up ClimateAi to fight climate change |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/when-iron-man-backed-agri-start-up-climateai-to-fight-climate-change-121072301587_1.html |publisher=[[Business Standard]] |date=24 July 2021}}</ref> While at Stanford, he met Max Evans and together they co-founded ClimateAI in July 2017.<ref name=climateai /> ClimateAI's [[Seed money|seed funding]] was partly provided by Stanford University, along with other backers including professors at Stanford.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jack |first1=Andrew |title=MBA graduates take on a green hue as fewer choose fossil fuel careers |url=https://www.ft.com/content/bc80f1ec-6164-4d7d-a2b4-e6981eabbfcb |publisher=[[Financial Times]] |date=1 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=$1.2 million for two new Stanford research projects on energy/climate AI and environmental justice |url=https://energy.stanford.edu/news/12-million-two-new-stanford-research-projects-energyclimate-ai-and-environmental-justice |publisher=[[Stanford University]] |date=10 June 2021}}</ref>

ClimateAI secured $12 million in its Series A funding round in July 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramasway |first1=Anita |title=The Pitch Deck This Climate Tech Startup Used to Raise $12 million |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/climateai-pitch-deck-climate-risk-modeling-startup-series-a-2021-7?r=US&IR=T |publisher=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref> In 2022, Gupta's ClimateAI was recognized as one of [[Time magazine]]'s best inventions of 2022. At the time of the award, the predictor focused on food and [[agriculture]] supply chains, predicting average temperatures, extreme weather and water availability.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McCormick |first1=John |title=Climate AI Startups Offer Businesses Shelter From Inclement Weather Risk |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/climate-ai-startups-offer-businesses-shelter-from-inclement-weather-risk-11628273073 |publisher=[[Wall Street Journal]] |date=6 August 2021}}</ref> Time predicted that future uses for the predictor could include flooding risk for developers.<ref name="time">{{cite web |last1=Baker |first1=Aryn |date=10 November 2022 |title=The Best 200 inventions of 2022 - Long-Term Climate-Proofing, ClimateAi Forecasting Tool |url=https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2022/6229921/climateai-forecasting-tool/ |publisher=[[Time magazine]]}}</ref> The company is now working with many known brands such as [[Driscoll's]], [[Oceanspray]], Nuveen Natural Capital, UPL among other market leaders.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gordon |first1=Julie |title=Drought, high costs bring U.S. berry giants to Canada's maple syrup land |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/drought-high-costs-bring-us-berry-giants-canadas-maple-syrup-land-2022-08-29/ |publisher=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

At [[Davos World Economic Forum]] in 2022, Gupta spoke about the difficulty of getting new seeds to market for farmers. He stated that often new seeds that had a higher tolerance to drought for example, could take up to 15 years to enter local markets. With the speed of the [[climate change|change in climate]], often seeds would prove to be less effective than initially planned, purely due to the lead time of the process. The artificial intelligence deployed by ClimateAI allows for specific seeds to be chosen based on weather and soil data within hours, instead of lengthy trials often taking years.<ref name="davos">{{cite web |title=Problem solving food insecurity |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0c4o5N79BI |publisher=[[Hub Culture]]}}</ref>

== Key contributions ==

=== Climate-tech education ===
In 2020, Himanshu published an ''adaptation and mitigation'' framework for analyzing climate-tech companies,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Himanshu |date=2022-06-27 |title=The rise and rise of Climate-tech |url=https://medium.com/@himanshu_99557/the-rise-and-rise-of-climate-tech-1c8e95da7c7b |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref> establishing ClimateAi's unique positioning and helping investors improve their understanding of the market. He has also spoken about the need to use climate-sharpe ratios<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Gupta |first1=Himanshu |last2=Chen |first2=Dave |date=March 31, 2022 |title=Tipping points of volatility: The case for climate-Sharpe ratios |url=https://impactalpha.com/tipping-points-of-volatility-the-case-for-climate-sharpe-ratios/ |access-date=December 17, 2023 |website=impactalpha.com}}</ref> to quantify climate change related risk and volatility and conceptualized unique funding mechanisms (e.g. adaptation credit) to fund climate-tech adaptation in vulnerable countries<ref>{{Cite web |first=Himanshu |last=Gupta |date=2022-09-12 |title=A radical idea to fund climate adaptation globally |url=https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/3639363-a-radical-idea-to-fund-climate-adaptation-globally/ |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Food security ===
Himanshu has spoken about impact of climate change on wine,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-19 |title=New Jersey winemakers say climate change is forcing them to "get more creative" - CBS New York |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/new-jersey-grapes-wine-climate-change/ |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> cranberries,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Climate change could soon make these staple Thanksgiving dishes more scarce |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/climate-change-make-staple-thanksgiving-dishes-scarce/story?id=104720022 |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> sweet potatoes,<ref name=":0" /> turkeys,<ref name=":0" /> bread,<ref name=":0" /> wheat,<ref name=":0" /> potatoes,<ref>{{Cite web |last=DroneSeed |date=2019-10-25 |title=Climate FICO Score for Farmers: An Interview with ClimateAI CEO Himanshu Gupta |url=https://medium.com/@droneseed/climate-fico-score-for-farmers-an-interview-with-climateai-ceo-himanshu-gupta-691f5b7bcbed |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref> and soybeans.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Andrea |date=2023-10-12 |title=How U.S. soybeans influence global economics |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/12/how-us-soybeans-influence-global-economics-.html |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> He has also spoken about Supply Chain Climate Action Plans(S-CAPs) to protect vulnerable food supply chains from climate impacts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-30 |title=Why we need a radical idea to protect food supply chains #climatechange #COP28 |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/11/adaptation-protect-supply-chains-climate-change-cop28/ |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=World Economic Forum |language=en}}</ref>

In 2022, Himanshu shared his opinion on food security at the [[Davos World Economic Forum]].<ref name="davos" />

=== Artificial intelligence ===
Himanshu has spoken about importance of artificial intelligence to achieve breakthrough results for climate change mitigation,<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Clare |last1=Duffy |first2=Rachel |last2=Ramirez |date=2023-11-26 |title=How AI could power the climate breakthrough the world needs |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/26/tech/ai-climate-solutions/index.html |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> ESG,<ref>{{Cite web |title=What AI means for ESG |url=https://www.ft.com/content/51700fde-eef3-44ed-91c3-8cc7c21208d2 |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=www.ft.com}}</ref> climate related supply-chain forecasting,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-12 |title=AI Is Giving the Climate Forecast for Supply Chains a Makeover |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-12/artificial-intelligence-climate-forecast-could-help-supply-chain-management |access-date=2023-12-17}}</ref> and agriculture.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Partners |url=https://wspartners.stage.bbc.com/episode/w3ct3kkf |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=wspartners.stage.bbc.com}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gupta, Himanshu}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:IIT Kharagpur alumni]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Stanford Graduate School of Business alumni]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Indian social entrepreneurs]]

Himanshu Gupta - Revision history

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