RK Pachauri steps down as IPCC chief

In his letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon, he said: "The IPCC needs strong leadership and dedication of time and full attention by the Chair in the immediate future, which under the current circumstances I may be unable to provide, as shown by my inability to travel to Nairobi to chair the plenary session of the Panel this week. I have, therefore, taken the decision  to stepdown from my position as Chair of the IPCC some months before the completiton of my term, and with effect from February 24, 2015. I would be available for help, support an advice to the entire IPCC in its future work in whatever manner I may be called on to provide."

Meanwhile, the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) agreed, in accordance with its procedures, to designate Vice-Chair Ismail El Gizouli as Acting  IPCC Chair.

"The designation of Gizouli follows the decision by Rajendra K Pachauri, PhD, to step
down as Chairman of the IPCC effective today," read an official statement issued by the IPCC.

"The decision to name Gizouli was taken at a Session of the Bureau ahead of the 41st Session of the IPCC, which is being held on 24-27 February 2015," it said.

“The actions taken today will ensure that the IPCC’s mission to assess climate change continues without interruption,” said Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), who facilitated the Bureau meeting.

“We look forward to a productive session in Nairobi this week,"  Steiner said.

Elections for a new Bureau, including the IPCC Chair, for the next assessment cycle are already scheduled at the 42nd Session of the IPCC in October 2015.

Pachauri was elected to the first of two terms as Chair of the IPCC in April 2002 and had been  scheduled to complete his second term in October.

The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri) director, who had earlier gone on leave, was on  Monday granted interim protection from arrest till Feb 26 by a trial court.

The court also issued notice to investigating officer (IO) of the case and sought his response by Feb 26 on  Pachauri's application for anticipatory bail on grounds of illness.

The 74-year-old Pachauri had pulled out of the high level meeting in Nairobi two days ago after police began investigating the 29-year-old researcher’s allegation of sexual harassment against him.

In an FIR, the 29-year-old Teri researcher accused Pachauri of harassing her by way of sending emails and SMS and WhatsApp messages.

Pachauri was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.