Rajendra Shende
Mr. Rajendra Shende, IIT-Alumni and former Director in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Mr. Shende is founder and Chairman of TERRE Policy Centre and is leading expert in sustainable development technologies and policies at global and local level. In United Nations he coordinated the implementation of singularly successful global environmental accord for the protection of the ozone layer. He was leading proponent of leveraging inter linkages of the multilateral environmental agreements, mainly the Montreal Protocol (Ozone Agreement) and Kyoto Protocol (Climate agreement ). He advised in146 developing countries to implement the Montreal Protocol and derive the climate benefits by mitigating emissions of Green House Gases ( GHGs) . He strategized social media approaches for UNEP to promote implementation of the global accords at local level. He was one of the first bloggers in UN-system. Mr.Shende was Coordinating Lead Author of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ( IPCC) that shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 with Al Gore. He is recipient of number of global and national awards that include Climate Protection award from USA. His was the first ever programme in UN system to win Stratospheric Ozone Layer Protection award from USA. The global partnership he forged to deploy Natural Refrigerants won Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government award. India’s former President Dr.Abdul Kalam felicitated him for the his work in multi-agency Public-Private Partnership that developed a model product Solar Refrigerator for preservation of vaccine. Mr Shende was recognized by UNEP for his unique approaches in creating action-based awareness , networking and capacity building programme , which later became models for other environmental agreements. Regular speaker, he has addressed the public meetings in Beijing University, MIT, Berkeley, INSEAD, HSC He published more than 100 awareness documents including ‘ Two Protocols One Solution’ and ‘ Networking Counts’ In TERRE, a not-for-profit organization he mentors the strategies for energy and food security through developing evidence based policies and promoting action based projects and partnerships. He continues to be advisor for United Nations activities and spends his time between India and France.

World Elephant Day2020: Elephants as Ecosystem Engineers
August 12, 2020
Elephants, because of their size, appetite and migratory habits, disperse more seeds of more species further than any other animal. They have been described as ecosystem engineers and mega- Gardeners of the Forest. We from South Asia should be proud that we also produce mega si...
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World Environment Day or World Emergency Day?
June 4, 2020
In line with the theme of this year’s World Environment Day, urban forests could become instrumental in protecting biodiversity and cleaning up the Earth at the same time. Friday marks the 46th World Environment Day (WED), a global event coordinated by United Nations Environmen...
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Helping migrants move from plate to plough
May 18, 2020
With millions of migrant workers heading back to their villages following the lockdown, the moment is ripe for India to go back to its roots and make villages truly self-reliant.
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Is world leadership also under lockdown?
April 26, 2020
China, France and India, the terrific trio’s potential to defeat Covid19 remains dormant.
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Social connect in times of social distancing
April 17, 2020
At a time when social media and some of the mainstream ones are spreading message of communal hatred, stories of humanity are emerging from various part of the country. Here is one such story from a small town in Satara in Maharashtra.
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La politique de voisinage de l’Inde face au Coronavirus
March 5, 2020
La première action politique de l’Inde en Chine remonte à près de 100 ans, lorsqu’un médecin indien a dirigé une équipe médicale pour aider l’armée chinoise à combattre l’invasion japonaise. Face à l’épidémie de coronavirus, il est peut-Ã...
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Kem chho, planet earth?
February 24, 2020
In the high profile media coverage of the visit of the United States President Donald Trump, that starts today, a number of issues have dominated the headlines. But perhaps the most significant one has escaped the media glare. However, Narendra Modi must ask Trump about climate c...
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Coronavirus outbreak
February 6, 2020
India’s neighbourhood first policy dates back almost 100 years ago when a doctor led a medical team to help Chinese Army battle the Japanese invasion. In face of Coronavirus outbreak, it may be time for India to replicate the gesture.
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Sultan Qaboos bin Said: Henry Kissinger of Middle East, with a difference
January 15, 2020
I strongly feel that United Nations owes him more than just a half-mast. My experience with Oman and visits during my UN days revealed Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s new world of quiet diplomacy, a monarchy committed to the people and that skilfully engages in preventing conflicts ev...
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Modi, Xi Jinping to meet for informal summit
October 10, 2019
The second informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping is an opportunity to strengthen the bilateral relationship.
Read MoreHowdy Modi!
September 21, 2019
Modi should use the opportunity of his visit to the United States to fight the battle for climate.
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