Rajendra Pachauri, brief biography
Dr Rajendra K Pachauri was born in Nainital, India, on August 20, 1940. He assumed his current responsibilities as the head of Teri (Tata Energy Research Institute) in 1981, first as Director and, sin-ce April 2001, as Director-General. Teri does original work and provides professional support in the areas of energy, environment, forestry, biotechnology, and the conservation of natural resources to government departments, institutions, and corporate organizations worldwide. Dr Pachauri has been elected as Chairman of Ipcc (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), established by World Meteorological Organization and United Nations Environment Programme in 1988. He has taken charge as Chairman, Ipcc from 20th April 2002 onwards. He has been active in several international forums dealing with the subject of climate change and its policy dimensions. The name of Dr Rajendra K. Pachauri, has become synonymous with climate change and the environment. Internationally recognised as a leading global thinker and leader of research, the more so sin-ce sharing the podium with Al Gore to receive the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the Ipcc, he has effortlessly worn these two hats.
Now, however, he finds himself catapulted into a third unnamed role as international statesman promoting climate change awareness. As the world wakes up to the reality of imminent climate change, environmental issues have suddenly taken on an extra urgency and Dr Pachauri’s work schedule has expanded enormously. These days he is constantly on the move, criss-crossing the globe to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counter such change. When not speaking on climate change, chairing meetings, making decisions for Teri, travelling and assessing for the Ipcc, Dr Pachauri has managed to write over a hundred articles for academic journals, more than 23 books and for light relief composes poetry. His other recreational diversion is cricket and for this he will always make time.
The faces of the shift
