Delta Merner

Delta Merner is the lead scientist for the Science Hub for Climate Litigation at the Union of Concerned Scientists. In her role, she provides timely, scientific evidence to support legal cases that hold fossil fuel companies accountable for climate-related damages. Dr. Merner reviews legal communications for scientific accuracy, connects legal teams with technical experts, and leads trainings for scientists working at the intersection of climate science and law. Prior to joining UCS, she was a senior scientist at the American Institute of Physics.

Dr. Merner earned a PhD in geography and environmental systems from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She also holds bachelor of science degrees in geography and environmental science and policy from Clark University. Dr. Merner has been quoted in ABC News, The Guardian, E&E, the Financial Times, the Lancet, NPR, and has written for The Hill and Scientific American.

Watch Delta Merner talk about climate action on Al Jazeera.

Selected publications

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, Delta Merner, Benjamin Franta, Alessandra Lehmen, Peter C. Frumhoff. 2022. Research Priorities for Climate Litigation. Earth's Future. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2022EF002928

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. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-020-0804-2