Jonathan Pershing is Professor in Practice of the Global School of Sustainability at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Prior to this, he was Program Director of Environment at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Pershing has worked at the highest level of US climate policy—including as the US Special Envoy for Climate Change—and has played a key role in creating international climate agreements. He has held significant positions in the US Department of State and US Department of Energy, as well as leadership roles in the World Resources Institute and International Energy Agency.