Coping with Climate Change: Is Development in India and the World Sustainable?

08 August 2007

Dr Rajendra K. Pachauri

2007 K R Narayanan Oration

Recent high rates of economic growth in India and other parts of the developing world, while reducing poverty and raising global economic growth, have put considerable stress on the environment even as it is already saddled with high emissions from the developed world. The 2007 K R Narayanan Oration  by Dr Rajendra K. Pachauri questions whether such growth patterns can be sustained into the future and what options are available for ensuring that the adverse impact of economic growth on the environment is manageable.

Broad Topics: Asia and the Pacific

Sub-topics: Architecture, Urban Environment & Building, Economics, Environment, Humanities, Policy & Political Science, Society & Culture

Areas: ANU College of Asia and the Pacific

Dr Rajendra K Pachauri was born in Nainital, India, on 20 August 1940. He assumed his current responsibilities as the head of The Energy and Resources Institute in 1981, first as Director and, since April 2001, as Director-General. In 1988, Dr Pachauri was elected as Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, established by World Meteorological Organisation and United Nations Environment Program. He has been active in several international forums dealing with the subject of climate change and its policy dimensions.

In 2001, Dr Pachauri was awarded the Padma Bhushan, which is one of India's highest civilian awards that recognises distinguished service of a high order to the nation in any field.