Scholars
L. Delta Merner
Union of Concerned Scientists
Based in
United States
North America
Delta Merner is a Lead Scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), specializing in both the social and physical sciences, with a focus on climate litigation, climate attribution, and fossil fuel accountability.
As the head of UCS’s Science Hub for Climate Litigation, Delta conducts research and provides scientific evidence to support climate-related legal cases. She also reviews legal communications for scientific accuracy and facilitates connections between legal teams and technical experts.
Delta’s regularly advises governmental and non-governmental organizations on climate-related matters and is a source for media outlets seeking insights on climate issues. She is also a member of the Climate Accountability Working Group with CSSN. Dr. Merner holds a Ph.D. in geography and environmental systems from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a dual bachelor’s degrees in geography and environmental science and policy from Clark University.
Focus areas of expertise
Greenwashing Climate law and litigation Fossil fuelsPublications
Articles
L.Delta Merner, Lisa Benjamin, William Ercole, Isabela Keuschnigg, Julian Kunik, Karla Martínez Toral, Laura Peterson, Joana Setzer, Karen Sokol, Aradhna Tandon & Kaia Turowski (2024) Comparative analysis of legal mechanisms to net-zero: lessons from Germany, the United States, Brazil, and China, Carbon Management, 15:1, DOI: 10.1080/17583004.2023.2288592
Wentz, Jessica, et al. “Research Priorities for Climate Litigation.” Earth’s Future, vol. 11, no. 1, American Geophysical Union (AGU), Dec. 2022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022ef002928 .
Merner, L. Delta; Franta, Benjamin; Frumhoff, Peter. (2022).“Identifying Gaps in Climate-Litigation Relevant Research: An Assessment from Interviews with Legal Scholars and Practitioners.” The Climate Social Science Network.
Phillips, C.A., Astrid Caldas, Rachel Cleetus, Kristina A. Dahl, Juan Declet-Barreto, Rachel Licker, L. Delta Merner, J. Pablo Ortiz-Partida, Alexandra L. Phelan, Erika Spanger-Siegfried, Shuchi Talati, Christopher H. Trisos, and Colin J. Carlson. (2020). “Compound climate risks in the COVID-19 pandemic.” Nature Climate Change.