Veerabhadran Ramanathan Wins Crafoord Prize

A scientist whose work fundamentally transformed how the world understands climate change has been awarded one of the highest honours in Earth sciences. At the age of 81, Veerabhadran Ramanathan, an Indian-origin atmospheric scientist, has won the Crafoord Prize, often described as the “Nobel of Geosciences.”

His pioneering research reshaped climate science by revealing the outsized role of trace gases in global warming and directly influenced international environmental policy, including landmark climate agreements.

---

Early Life and Academic Journey

Veerabhadran Ramanathan was born and raised in southern India. He pursued engineering studies in Bengaluru before moving to the United States in his twenties for higher education and research opportunities.

Key Early Influences:

• Initial professional work in the refrigeration industry
• Focus on detecting leaks in cooling gases
• First-hand exposure to industrial chemicals, which sparked scientific curiosity

This early industrial experience proved pivotal, laying the foundation for his later breakthroughs in atmospheric chemistry and climate science.

---

Discovery of the Warming Power of Trace Gases

In the 1970s, while working at NASA Langley Research Center, Ramanathan made a discovery that would redefine climate science.

Landmark Contribution:

• In 1975, he published a seminal paper in the journal Science
• Demonstrated that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are extremely powerful greenhouse gases
• Showed that a single CFC molecule can trap thousands of times more heat than carbon dioxide (CO₂)

This was the first clear scientific evidence that gases other than CO₂ could significantly drive global warming, fundamentally expanding the scope of climate research.

---

Shaping Climate Policy Through Science

Building on his early work, Ramanathan later demonstrated that other trace gases could speed up global warming. Gases such as methane and nitrous oxide could accelerate it far faster than previously estimated.

Policy Impact:

• His research provided critical scientific backing for the Montreal Protocol (1987)
• The treaty led to the global phase-out of CFCs
• Widely credited with:
  • Protecting the ozone layer
  • Preventing substantial additional global warming

The Montreal Protocol is often cited as one of the most successful environmental agreements in history, and Ramanathan’s work was central to its scientific foundation.

---

Why the Crafoord Prize Matters

The Crafoord Prize is awarded for fields not covered by the Nobel Prizes, including geosciences and climate science.

• Recognises lifetime contributions
• Highlights the role of science in shaping global policy
• Acknowledges climate change as a core Earth-system challenge

By honouring Ramanathan, the prize underscores how fundamental research can translate into real-world global action.

---