Mukta Salunkhe is a Senior Program Associate with the Cities team at WRI India, focusing on the intersection of climate policy and urban governance. She has been involved in creating climate-resilient cities and played a key role in developing the Mumbai Climate Action Plan. Mukta has also contributed to the Climate Action Plans for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), Nashik, and Solapur. Additionally, she supports the Government of Maharashtra in mainstreaming climate action across 43 cities through capacity-building workshops, project development, and innovative financing mechanisms. At the national level, she works on accelerating finance for adaptation and resilience projects in Indian cities.

Before joining WRI India, Mukta served as a Climate Fellow with the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Maharashtra. During her fellowship, she developed policies and programs to advance Maharashtra's climate goals. In 2021, she represented Mumbai at COP26 in Glasgow, leading an exhibition on the city's climate initiatives. Mukta also contributed to the design and implementation of the state-level adaptation and mitigation program, My Earth Mission (Majhi Vasundhara Abhiyan), across Maharashtra.

Mukta holds a Master of Science degree in Sustainable Development and Environment Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology, both from the University of Mumbai. She is passionate about solving complex climate challenges by integrating interdisciplinary approaches to develop practical solutions.

Outside of work, Mukta enjoys exploring big cat ecosystems, discovering new places, and trying local food.