Pasang Yangjee Sherpa

Pasang Yangjee Sherpa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia (UBC), affiliated with the Faculty of Arts. Her research focuses on climate change and Indigeneity among Himalayan communities, particularly Sherpa populations in the Mount Everest region of Nepal. She explores themes of cultural preservation, environmental justice, and the intersection of climate science with Indigenous knowledge systems.

Current projects include Transnational Sherpa, examining Sherpa identity and socioeconomic changes, and the Knowledge Justice Collective, advocating for plural climate frameworks grounded in social and environmental justice. She collaborates with geographers and climate scientists to challenge dominant climate narratives and amplify Indigenous voices in global policy (e.g., IPCC reports).

Teaching courses include Indigenous Environmentalism in Asia and Beyond and Biocultural Diversity: Language, Community, and Environment, emphasizing ethical engagements with Indigenous sciences. Her work bridges anthropology, environmental studies, and policy advocacy, addressing urgent questions of climate adaptation and cultural survival.

Key contributions include critical analyses of institutional climate responses, the role of matriarchs in Sherpa society, and sustainable futures in the Anthropocene. Her research underscores the necessity of relationality between humans and the environment for equitable climate solutions.