UNESCO South Asia Report Recognizes Pondicherry University UNESCO Chair’s Leadership in Renewable Energy and Sustainable Devel

News UNESCO Chair, Puducherry, India - 18th June 2026

Puducherry, India | June 2026

The UNESCO Chair on Renewable and Clean Energy Technology for Sustainable Development (RCESD) at Pondicherry University has received significant recognition in the recently released Report of the Roundtable of UNESCO Chairs in South Asia (2026–2027), issued by the UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia following the UNESCO Chairs Roundtable Meeting held in Kerala in May 2026.

The report, shared by Mr. Tim Curtis, Director and Representative of UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia, highlights the growing contribution of the UNESCO Chair RCESD under the leadership of Prof. R. Arun Prasath, Chairholder and Professor at Pondicherry University, in advancing sustainable energy solutions, climate action, capacity building, and interdisciplinary research across South Asia.

A major outcome of the UNESCO deliberations was the identification of Prof. Arun Prasath to lead collaborative initiatives with UNESCO's Science Sector on “Greener Digital Transformation” and “Responsible Technology Assessment,” focusing on the environmental footprint of artificial intelligence and data centres, particularly their energy and water consumption. The UNESCO report recommends the development of regional concept notes and policy-oriented frameworks under his leadership for the 2026–2027 programme cycle.

The UNESCO Chair's future roadmap includes expanding national and international capacity-building programmes in renewable and clean energy technologies, introducing innovative credit and certificate courses on sustainable energy systems, strengthening industry-academia partnerships, and organizing international conferences on energy, water, disaster risk reduction, and sustainability in collaboration with regional UNESCO Chairs and UNESCO New Delhi.

Since its inauguration in December 2024, the UNESCO Chair RCESD has emerged as a vibrant platform for promoting renewable energy, green hydrogen, ocean energy, nuclear energy, and sustainable technologies through conferences, workshops, training programmes, exhibitions, and innovation initiatives. Within a short span, the Chair has successfully engaged hundreds of students, researchers, and professionals from India and neighboring South Asian countries.

A notable feature of the Chair's achievements has been the strong support extended by the Madanjeet Singh Foundation through the South Asian Foundation network. UNESCO's official report specifically acknowledges that the Chair's capacity-building programmes, conferences, and regional outreach activities have been conducted with substantial support from the Foundation, enabling participation from students and researchers across South Asia, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.

Among the flagship initiatives supported under this vision was the National-Level Competition and Exhibition on Sustainable Technologies, organized in commemoration of the 102nd Birth Anniversary of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Late Shri Madanjeet Singh, which encouraged innovation and sustainability-focused solutions among youth and emerging researchers.

The UNESCO Roundtable further emphasized the importance of collaboration among the 24 UNESCO Chairs across South Asia to address pressing regional challenges, including environmental crises, digital transformation, climate resilience, youth engagement, cultural diversity, and sustainable development. The recognition accorded to Pondicherry University's UNESCO Chair RCESD underscores its growing role as a regional knowledge hub contributing to UNESCO's strategic priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As UNESCO Chairs across South Asia move toward implementing the 2026–2027 action agenda, the continued support of the Madanjeet Singh Foundation is expected to further strengthen the Chair's mission of fostering innovation, sustainability, international cooperation, and transformative education for a greener and more resilient future.

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