Aparna Rao

Indian environmentalist who pioneered sustainable development initiatives in rural India

Aparna Rao (b. 1968) emerged as a leading figure in sustainable development during the 1990s through her innovative work with marginalized communities in rural India. As founder of the GreenRoots Foundation, she developed community-led programs that combined renewable energy solutions with agroforestry practices. Her Community Solar Grid Model provided clean energy access to over 200 villages while maintaining ecological balance. Rao's approach emphasized women's leadership in environmental stewardship, training thousands of rural women as 'Eco-Entrepreneurs.'

Her work gained international recognition when UNESCO adopted her methodology in 1998 as a case study for the Global Environmental Education Partnership. Rao's 2001 publication Sowing Seeds of Sustainability became a foundational text for grassroots environmental movements. She later co-founded the Climate Smart Villages network, which now operates in 15 countries. A pioneer in integrating traditional knowledge with modern technology, her legacy continues through the Aparna Rao Fellowship Program at Harvard's Kennedy School.