Steven Peter Hamburg is an American environmental scientist renowned for his expertise in atmospheric science, biogeochemistry, forest ecology, and climate change impacts. He earned a B.A. from Vassar College in 1975, an M.F.S. from Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies in 1977, and a Ph.D. in Forest Ecology from Yale University in 1984. Early in his career, Hamburg served as a professor at the University of Kansas, where he directed the Environmental Studies Program and founded one of the first sustainability programs in 1990, also acting as the university's Environmental Ombudsman. From 1994 to 2008, he was the Ittleson Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at Brown University, contributing significantly to research on ecosystem dynamics and habitat fragmentation.

In 2008, Hamburg joined the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) as Chief Scientist and Senior Vice President, where he oversees the organization's scientific initiatives, with a focus on quantifying methane emissions from the natural gas supply chain and advancing remote sensing technologies for greenhouse gas monitoring. With over 35 years of research experience, he has authored more than 100 scientific papers, including influential works on reconciling estimates of oil and gas methane emissions published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2015. Hamburg also serves as an adjunct scientist at the Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies since 2009 and leads the MethaneSAT project, aimed at improving global methane emission tracking through satellite technology.

Based in Providence, Rhode Island, Hamburg continues to influence environmental policy and science through his roles at EDF and affiliations with institutions like Harvard University as a professor of Atmospheric and Environmental Chemistry. His work emphasizes data-driven advocacy to address climate challenges, particularly in energy sector emissions.