Ben Furnas ’06 is a recognized expert in public policy, infrastructure, sustainability, energy, and municipal government. From 2022-2024, he served as executive director of The 2030 Project: A Cornell Climate Initiative. Now as Executive Director at Transportation Alternatives, he continues his relationship with Cornell University and Cornell Atkinson as a Visiting Senior Fellow.
Furnas previously served 8 years in the New York City Mayor’s Office, culminating as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Sustainability. During his time in the Mayor’s Office, he worked collaboratively with partners inside and outside government to spearhead nation-leading initiatives to decarbonize the city’s buildings, improve street safety, develop renewable energy, expand worker protections, embrace sustainable transportation, reduce the climate impact municipal operations, and advance environmental justice.
Furnas previously worked at the Center for American Progress, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, Auburn Theological Seminary, and the New York City Office of the Public Advocate. He graduated magna cum laude from New York University School of Law (2012), and received his B.A. in Government and Economics from Cornell University (2006). He was born and raised in Ithaca, New York.