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Pachauri took center stage in the debate about climate change in 2002 when he was elected chairman of the IPCC, a group set up by the United Nations and the World Meteorological Organization. Through scientific investigation, the panel of several thousand researchers and scientists has forged a widening consensus about the link between human activities and global warming.

2015 deadline

Pachauri said the science is clear on climate change, which will have serious consequences as temperatures change and sea levels rise. He said world leaders need to start reducing carbon emissions by 2015 at the latest.

"That doesn't give us too much time," Pachauri said. "We need to get an agreement in place as quickly as possible."

In his Nobel lecture, Pachauri said the world must approach the challenge of climate change from the perspective that the planet is one family. He told members of Congress last month that the rest of the world looks to the United States for leadership on a new pact to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"The U.S. has to be part of the agreement, not only because the United States is a major source of emissions of greenhouse gases," Pachauri said in an interview. "It provides a lot of credibility to any kind of global effort. That is a reality."

While in Raleigh, Pachauri will also address a state legislative commission on climate change.

Rep. Pricey Harrison, one of the leaders of the state panel, said the policy reports that the intergovernmental panel is publishing about global warming provide justification for steps that states and countries need to take to reduce greenhouse emissions.

"We're hoping he might be able to give us the silver lining," Harrison said, referring to economic opportunities brought about by restrictions on greenhouse emissions. She said he also could offer insights into what other countries are doing and what opportunities are available.

Pachauri also will be presented an alumnus award from the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. The honor is given to individuals whose contributions to their profession merit special recognition.

As one of NCSU's most accomplished alumni, Pachauri has unwittingly inspired a rush on applications to his alma mater from students in his native India.

"We're getting greatly increased numbers of applications from India from people who know Pachauri did his graduate work here," said Bernhard, the NCSU professor. "Sometimes the applicants actually note on the application, 'I know our guru Rajendra Pachauri got his graduate degrees at N.C. State.' "

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