Ravi S. Prasad is a Distinguished Fellow at The Council, where he focuses on climate action, resilience, decarbonisation, carbon markets, international cooperation, air pollution and training.

A member of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) from 1990 to 2024, Ravi held key positions in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change as Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary, and in the state of Assam. He served as India's Chief Negotiator for Climate Change from 2013 to 2021, contributing to the framing of the Paris Agreement and its rulebook. He also served as Vice President of the Conference of the Parties (COP) Bureau for two years, guiding United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change processes and negotiations. In 2019, he led India's engagement at the UN Secretary-General's Climate Action Summit, where the India-Sweden Leadership Initiative for Industrial Transition was launched.

Ravi led the preparation of India's first Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement. He launched pioneering initiatives such as the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change, the Climate Change Action Programme, and National Clean Air Programme. As the national focal point for the Green Climate Fund, Climate Technology Centre and Network, Adaptation Fund, Global Environment Facility, and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, he successfully mobilised international support for India's climate goals.

He was instrumental in raising climate awareness in Indian states through the formulation and updating of State Action Plans on Climate Change. As Chairman of the Central Pollution Control Board, he initiated graded action on violations detected by Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems, ensuring stronger compliance. In Assam, Ravi launched the Flood and Riverbank Erosion Management Agency (FREMA) as its first Chief Executive Officer with support from the Asian Development Bank. In 2023–2024, he led a record-breaking plantation drive of 40 million saplings, with a unique focus on women's participation. He also contributed to the development of Assam's first green budget.

An academic at heart, Ravi has taught microeconomics at the University of Delhi and is a frequent speaker on climate and environmental issues. He developed training modules on climate and energy for mid-career civil servants at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration. He has published in peer-reviewed journals and authored numerous newspaper articles.

Ravi holds master's degrees from the Delhi School of Economics and Columbia University. Beyond his professional pursuits, he is an avid traveller and trekker and enjoys racquet sports.