John Furlow

John Furlow is the Director of the International Research Institute for Climate and Society. He joined IRI in 2017 as its Deputy Director for Humanitarian Assistance and International Development and became its Director in May 2021. John’s focus is on connecting complex climate science to decision making to improve lives and livelihoods in developing countries. He is interested in policy reform that reflects the value of climate information in supporting important socio-economic sectors, such as agriculture and public health. He currently leads ACToday Columbia World Project work in Vietnam, developing climate services and integrating climate information into policy and practice to contribute to ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture (SDG2). He also developed an executive education course on the UN climate negotiations and their role in US foreign policy and support for international development.

Prior to coming to IRI, John designed and led the Climate Change Adaptation Program in USAID’s climate change office. He advised the government of Jamaica in the development of its national climate change policy and its climate smart agriculture sector plan. John also led a project to develop Jamaica’s agro-climate service, which produces a seasonal forecast tailored for farmers and disseminated by text and agriculture extension workers. He helped launch the Climate Services Partnership in 2011. In 2015, he worked at the US Department of State designing and managing the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network as part of US preparations for the UN Climate Conference in Paris.