Ruth Townend

Ruth Townend’s work at Chatham House focuses primarily on climate risk and diplomacy, exploring the interplay of climate change, international affairs and national and local politics. With 19 years’ experience in foreign policy, climate diplomacy, human rights and sustainability, Ruth has worked across a broad set of climate-relevant issues, for and on behalf of governments, charities, and highly respected internationally operating organizations.

Ruth leads Chatham House’s climate diplomacy work and hosts the Climate Briefing podcast. She is currently working in collaboration with the Russia and Eurasia Programme to develop insights into the challenges and opportunities of Azerbaijan’s climate leadership role around COP29, and as part of the Troika with COP28 host the UAE, and COP30 host Brazil.

Bringing many years’ expertise in research methods, from robust qualitative surveys to innovative digital auto-ethnography, Ruth supports colleagues in research methods learning, application and innovation across Chatham House. She holds a degree in Social Anthropology from the University of Cambridge.