Indian-Origin Scientist Wins Crafoord Prize 2026

Indian-origin scientist Veerabhadran Ramanathan received the Crafoord Prize, widely known as the “Nobel of Geosciences.” His decades-long research fundamentally changed how the world understands climate change. From discovering the warming impact of industrial gases to shaping global environmental policies, his work has influenced both science and society. The award recognizes a lifetime dedicated to protecting the planet through evidence-based climate science.

Who Is Veerabhadran Ramanathan?

• Veerabhadran Ramanathan is an Indian-origin atmospheric scientist whose work transformed climate science.
• Born and educated in southern India, he studied engineering in Bengaluru before moving to the United States for higher education.
• Over a career spanning five decades, he worked at leading global institutions and quietly reshaped scientific thinking on global warming.
• His research proved that climate change is not driven by carbon dioxide alone but by multiple heat-trapping gases acting together.

The Discovery That Changed Climate Science

• In the 1970s, while working at NASA Langley Research Center, Ramanathan discovered that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) trap enormous amounts of heat.
• His 1975 paper in Science showed that a single CFC molecule could warm the planet thousands of times more than carbon dioxide.
• This was the first clear proof that gases other than CO₂ could drive global warming, changing the direction of climate research worldwide.

Trace Gases and Faster Global Warming

• Ramanathan’s later work revealed the powerful role of trace gases like methane and nitrous oxide.
• In 1985, he co-authored research warning that these gases could accelerate global warming far faster than previously expected.
• This scientific evidence played a key role in shaping the Montreal Protocol (1987), which phased out CFCs.
• The treaty is considered one of the most successful environmental agreements and prevented significant additional global warming.

Science, Ethics and Global Leadership

• Ramanathan has advised policymakers and global leaders, including serving on the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, where he advised three popes on climate ethics.
• He consistently highlights how climate change disproportionately affects the poor.
• Even in personal life, he practices sustainability, but stresses that policy and leadership, not just individual actions, are key to solving the climate crisis.

Crafoord Prize Overview

Aspect	Details
Name of the Prize	Crafoord Prize (Crafoordpriset)
Established	1980
Founders	Holger Crafoord and Anna-Greta Crafoord
Administering Bodies	Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences & Crafoord Foundation (Lund)
Purpose	To honour scientific fields not covered by Nobel Prizes
Award Categories	Mathematics, Astronomy, Geosciences, Biosciences (Ecology-focused), Polyarthritis
Special Category	Polyarthritis – included due to Holger Crafoord’s rheumatoid arthritis
Award Pattern	One prize per year, following a rotational cycle
Change since 2012	Mathematics & Astronomy awarded separately but simultaneously
Number of Laureates	Usually 1; maximum 3
Announcement	Mid-January every year
Award Ceremony	April–May during Crafoord Days
Presenter	Member of the Swedish Monarchy
Prize Money (2024)	6,000,000 Swedish kronor (~US$560,000)
First Awarded	1982
First Laureates	Vladimir Arnold & Louis Nirenberg
First Woman Laureate	Andrea Ghez (Astronomy, 2012)

Key Summary at a Glance

Aspect	Details
Why in News?	Won Crafoord Prize 2026
Age	81 years
Field	Climate & atmospheric science
Key Discovery	Warming impact of CFCs
Global Impact	Influenced Montreal Protocol

Question

Q. Veerabhadran Ramanathan won which prestigious award in 2026?

A. Nobel Prize in Chemistry
B. Tyler Prize
C. Crafoord Prize
D. Blue Planet Prize