Why Green - Inspired to be Green
Why Green - Inspired to be Green
Why Green - Inspired to be Green
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10<br />
Questions with<br />
<strong>Green</strong> Leader: R K Pachauri<br />
“Visionary and Pioneer of the <strong>Green</strong> Building Movement in India"<br />
1. What inspired you <strong>to</strong> take up “the journey on the path of<br />
green”?<br />
What inspired me <strong>to</strong> take up the journey on the path of green stems from two<br />
fac<strong>to</strong>rs. Firstly, I was born and spent a good part of my childhood in Nainital and<br />
in the <strong>be</strong>autiful surroundings of mountains nestling a large and placid lake.<br />
Extended exposure <strong>to</strong> the <strong>be</strong>auty of nature at such an early stage of my life<br />
left a deep impression on my sensibility related <strong>to</strong> green issues. The second<br />
reason lies in the fact that when I <strong>be</strong>came a researcher I initially worked on<br />
energy issues and realized very soon the major environmental implications<br />
of the entire energy cycle, including the accumulation of greenhouse gases,<br />
which have led <strong>to</strong> human induced climate change.<br />
2. In what profession or on what project were you working 10<br />
years ago?<br />
Dr. R K Pachauri,<br />
Direc<strong>to</strong>r General TERI<br />
Ten years ago <strong>to</strong>o I was Direc<strong>to</strong>r General of The Energy and Resources<br />
Institute (TERI) and essentially involved in building up this Institute. At that<br />
stage I was also the Vice-Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate<br />
Change (IPCC), and played a significant role in several activities related <strong>to</strong><br />
the preparation of the Third Assessment Report (TAR). In those days I also<br />
had time <strong>to</strong> carry out some research myself which unfortunately has <strong>be</strong>come<br />
increasingly difficult now.<br />
3. What is true sustainability in your view?<br />
In my opinion true sustainability is based on a<br />
practical understanding and application of the very<br />
simple definition in the Brundtland Commission<br />
report which essentially defines sustainable<br />
development as that form of development which<br />
meets the needs of the present generation without<br />
compromising on the ability of future generations <strong>to</strong><br />
meet their own needs.<br />
4. What does a day in the life of Dr.Pachauri<br />
look like?<br />
My life involves very long hours of work, and when<br />
I find I have many tasks <strong>to</strong> complete I often come<br />
in at odd hours in the night, often as early as 2.00<br />
a.m., and work for several hours in my office. I have<br />
<strong>to</strong> travel a lot and hence several of my days during<br />
the year are taken up in international travel as well.
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