Lily Mefford

Lily Mefford is a rising junior at UNC Chapel Hill. An Honors Carolina student, she pursues degrees in Public Policy and Geography & Environment, she studies the ways in which global organizational narratives shape the trajectory of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) governance, and under what conditions discourse translates to policy action or inaction. During the spring 2026 semester, she carried out an independent study at Sanford on Climate & Net Zero under Professor Celina Scott-Buechler. She is a Carolina Diplomacy Fellow and continues to work with the Diplomacy Initiative at UNC. Bringing experience in science communication, and community-driven public service, some of her past work experience includes positions with the Center for Environmental Modeling for Policy Development, Rotary, and All We Are. This year, she attended the UN Forum on Forests and will travel to Germany for SB64 this June with Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future to assist in running a Nitrogen Transition Workshop. Lily enjoys water coloring, frequenting local gardens, planning her next trip, spending time with friends and family, and being humbled at UNC Club Triathlon practices.