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Biography
Dr. Erin Coughlan de Perez is a climate scientist whose work advances climate risk management by integrating science, policy, and practice to better anticipate and mitigate disasters such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves. She spearheaded the rise of Anticipatory Action, pioneering Forecast‑based Financing (FbF) and developing innovative early warning and early action systems that help humanitarian organizations respond proactively to extreme weather events. Her research also examines how climate change adaptation measures can be effectively implemented across diverse global contexts.
Dr. Coughlan de Perez heads several global research initiatives. She directs the Center for Climate and Health glObal Research on Disasters (CORD), a global consortium of seven universities collaborating on climate, health, and Anticipatory Action. Additionally, she leads a NASA-funded project investigating unprecedented extreme weather events in the United States, in partnership with the American Red Cross.
Before joining Tufts University, Dr. Coughlan de Perez was at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, where she established a global climate science team and pioneered Forecast-based Financing. She continues to serve as a technical advisor at the Climate Centre, maintaining vital connections to humanitarian operations worldwide.
Dr. Coughlan de Perez earned her PhD from VU University Amsterdam, her MA in Climate and Society from Columbia University, and her BSc in Environmental Science and International Development from McGill University. She was a lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 6th Assessment Report. Additionally, she serves as an academic editor for the journal PLOS Climate and serves on the Climate Science Advisory Panel for the state of Massachusetts.
