Events

Speaker: L. Delta Merner
Affiliation: Union of Concerned Scientists

The Geography and Environmental Systems (GES) Seminar Series welcomes department alum L. Delta Merner, Research Director of the Climate Hub for Climate Litigation at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Science in the Courtroom: Informing Climate Litigation Through Attribution and Evidence

As climate litigation accelerates globally, courts have become critical venues where scientific research is translated into legal accountability. This talk examines the evolving nexus between science and legal practice, exploring how scientists can meaningfully engage with legal questions.

I will present findings from a 2026 qualitative study identifying the scientific research areas now most critical for informing climate accountability. Key priorities include source-to-impact attribution methodologies, localized climate attribution, non-economic loss quantification, climate-health linkages, and deception campaign impact quantification.

Drawing on recently published work I will demonstrate how emerging scientific frameworks are already shaping legal arguments. I will also highlight concrete examples of science informing climate cases such as the recent landmark win in Australia's to an overview of the evolving U.S. climate docket. The talk concludes with guidance for scientists seeking to contribute to climate accountability through judicial pathways.