Rajendra K. Pachauri, Environmental Scientist
Environmental Scientist

Rajendra K. Pachauri

Born 20 August 1940 · Uttarakhand — Died 13 February 2020

Led the IPCC to win the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for climate change assessment reports.

Rajendra Kumar Pachauri was the chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) from 2002 to 2015, during the fourth and fifth assessment cycles. Under his leadership the IPCC was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 and delivered the Fifth Assessment Report, the scientific foundation of the Paris Agreement. He held the post from 2002 until his resignation in February 2015 after facing multiple allegations of sexual harassment. In March 2022, he was exonerated of the sexual harassment allegations.

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A detail that
surprised us

“

Rajendra K. Pachauri’s doctoral thesis in 1974 was one of the earliest to use dynamic modeling for regional electrical energy demand forecasting in the US Carolinas.

The Story

1
In 1974, Rajendra K. Pachauri completed a PhD at North Carolina State University with a thesis forecasting electrical energy demand in the Carolinas, blending engineering and economics in a pioneering way.
2
🌍 In April 2002, Pachauri was elected chairman of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), steering the organization through its Fourth and Fifth Assessment Reports.
3🏆 Under his leadership, the IPCC was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for efforts to deepen understanding of human-caused climate change, shared with former US Vice President Al Gore.
4From 1981 to 2016, Pachauri helmed The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in New Delhi, shaping it into a global think tank on sustainable development and energy policy.

🏅 Awards & Honours

2001
Padma Bhushan
2008
Padma Vibhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

Pachauri held two PhDs simultaneously—one in Industrial Engineering and another in Economics—earned by 1974 at North Carolina State University, a rare academic combination at the time.

🖼️

Through the Years

5 photographs from the archives
Rajendra K. Pachauri in front of Oslo City Hall receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for IPCC (2007).
Rajendra K. Pachauri in front of Oslo City Hall receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for IPCC (2007).
2007
Rajendra K. Pachauri addressing the International Seminar on Rural Poverty in New Delhi (2009).
Rajendra K. Pachauri at the Koli Forum in Koli, Finland (2013).
Rajendra K. Pachauri participating in the Swatch Bharat Mission at TERI University (2014).
Rajendra K. Pachauri with Al Gore on the balcony of Grand Hotel, Oslo, Norway (2007).

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Nainital, Uttarakhand
Rajendra Kumar Pachauri was born in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand, India.
1940
📚
Education
Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering
Pachauri completed an MS in Industrial Engineering at North Carolina State University.
1972
📚
Education
Awarded PhD in Industrial Engineering and Economics
He earned a PhD with a dissertation on forecasting electrical energy demand in the Carolinas.
1974
⚡
Career
Joined TERI as Chief Executive
Pachauri began leading The Energy and Resources Institute in New Delhi.
1981
⚡
Career
Elected Chairman of IPCC
Pachauri took over as chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
2002
🏅
Award
IPCC awarded Nobel Peace Prize
Under Pachauri’s chairmanship, IPCC shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore.
2007
⚡
Career
Resigned as IPCC Chairman
Pachauri stepped down amid allegations of sexual harassment.
2015
🕊️
Death
Passed away in New Delhi
Rajendra K. Pachauri died at age 79.
2020
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🔍LESSER KNOWN

He began his professional career with the Indian Railways’ Diesel Locomotive Works in Varanasi before pivoting toward environmental science in the 1970s.

02 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

In 2006, the French government awarded Pachauri the Officier De La Légion D’Honneur, an honor rarely bestowed on Indian scientists.

03 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Pachauri was known as 'Patchy' among colleagues, a nickname reflecting his approachable nature despite his high-profile roles.

“

"Climate change is the defining issue of our time."

— Rajendra K. Pachauri

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
IN CONVERSATION - DR. R. K. PACHAURI
More from this archive
IN CONVERSATION - DR. R. K. PACHAURI
01
IN CONVERSATION - DR. R. K. PACHAURI
Rajendra Pachauri — IPCC Chair
02
Rajendra Pachauri — IPCC Chair
IN CONVERSATION- DR. R. K. PACHAURI
03
IN CONVERSATION- DR. R. K. PACHAURI
Climategate : Pachauri the naughty scientist
04
Climategate : Pachauri the naughty scientist
IN CONVERSATION- DR. R. K. PACHAURI
05
IN CONVERSATION- DR. R. K. PACHAURI
Dr. Rajendra Pachauri of Teri - The Energy and Resources Institute
06
Dr. Rajendra Pachauri of Teri - The Energy and Resources Institute
Rajendra K Pachauri
07
Rajendra K Pachauri
Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Rajendra Pachauri news conference
08
Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Rajendra Pachauri news conference
Dr RK Pachauri on climate change and poverty
09
Dr RK Pachauri on climate change and poverty
State of the Economy with R K Pachauri
10
State of the Economy with R K Pachauri

🌱 What changed because of them

Pachauri’s leadership of the IPCC catalyzed international climate policy, directly influencing the scientific basis of the 2015 Paris Agreement. At TERI, he institutionalized sustainable development strategies that informed Indian national energy policies and global climate discourse. His work helped transition climate change from a scientific concern to a critical geopolitical issue.

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