Sexual harassment case: Pachauri still holds position in global bodies

Despite allegations of sexual harassment, RK Pachauri, director general of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is still part of some prominent international bodies, even though he has resigned as the chairperson of the Nobel-prize winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and as member of Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change.

Despite allegations of sexual harassment, RK Pachauri, director general of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is still part of some prominent international bodies, even though he has resigned as the chairperson of the Nobel-prize winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and as member of Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change.

RK-Pachauri-resigned-as-the-chairperson-of-Intergovernmental-Panel-on-Climate-Change-IPCC-following-accusation-of-sexual-harassment-HT-file-photo

Pachauri is special adviser to the Energy for All Partnership of the Asian Development Bank, member of the advisory board of Clinton Climate Initiative and member of UNESCO high-level panel on peace and dialogue among cultures and its international science, technology and innovation centre for south-south cooperation.

HT had sent emails to all these organisations, seeking their comments on Pachauri holding important positions in wake of the case of sexual harassment of a research assistant registered against him by Delhi Police. None of them responded to the emails sent last Friday. A UNESCO representative in Delhi said the response should be sought from the Paris office as the view will be taken by senior executives there. There was no response to an email to the Paris office.

The ADB India office also did not respond, saying the call will have to be taken by its headquarters.

The TERI chief, who has gone on leave after the allegations, was not involved in day to day functions of these organisations. Pachauri is associated with 17 international organisations mostly as an adviser.

This comes in the wake of the UN announcing that it will not conduct any inquiry against Pachauri. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, in response to a question on UN starting a separate inquiry against Pachauri, said “We have seen the press reports of the case and I understand the case is being investigated by national authorities and that is where it stands.”