The issue of climate change has come roaring back into the spotlight since a 300,000-strong group of concerned citizens gathered on September 21st in New York to raise awareness of climate change. In response, at a historic UN climate summit on September 23rd, member nations reiterated their commitment to reach an agreement on the issue of climate change by 2015. But will an agreement be possible?

Join the Georgetown-India Dialogue and the SFS Asian Studies Program in welcoming Mr. Jairam Ramesh, in our quest to find an answer to this question. Having been India’s chief negotiator at both the Copenhagen (2009) and Cancún (2010) climate change conferences, Ramesh’s role in bringing the West and developing countries together has brought him many accolades. His experiences as Environment Minister of a country like India combined with his critical involvement on the world stage allow him to bring us a unique and insightful perspective on this widely debated issue.

Jairam Ramesh is a Member of India’s Parliament and a senior political leader of the Indian National Congress Party. Ramesh was chief negotiator for India at the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Copenhagen, Denmark. He has been a leading figure in international climate diplomacy for years and is currently a Fisher Family Fellow with the Future of Diplomacy Project at Harvard University. Ramesh was the Union Cabinet Minister for Rural Development under Prime Minister Singh from 2011-2014. He held numerous high-level government posts from 2006-14, including the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Power from 2008-2009. In the 1980’s he served as Economic Advisor to the Finance Minister. Ramesh studied at the Indian Institute of Technology (Bombay), Carnegie Mellon University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

This event is made possible through the generous financial support of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, the Walsh School of Foreign Service's Global Human Development Program and Science, Technology, and International Affairs Program, and the Global Education & Leadership Foundation.