The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) wants to hear from you about climate action in your community!

To better understand how to incorporate the needs of under-resourced communities in future climate planning, DEP is asking for your input as it develops a Guide to Climate Action for Environmental Justice Communities.

Climate change is impacting Pennsylvanians and people all over the world, but historic and persisting inequities mean that not all Pennsylvania communities will be affected equally. Pennsylvanians who live in Environmental Justice communities in particular are disproportionately exposed to climate hazards, such as flooding and heatwaves. At the same time, they have limited access to tools to adapt to impacts and transition to cleaner energy to slow down climate change. As the climate continues to heat up, this vulnerability will deepen, unless action is taken.

DEP and its contractor, Preservation Design Partnership (PDP), along with local partners, are hosting public engagement sessions to listen to communities, discuss their climate adaptation needs, and learn what state government and others can do to assist them in becoming more sustainable and resilient in the face of climate change.

Join the Discussion in Person or Virtually

Meetings will consist of a brief primer on the scope and purpose of the project and how to find more information for all participants, followed by a facilitated discussion on climate strategies for in-person attendees. DEP invites you to attend the one nearest to you, or virtually attend any meeting that fits your schedule via Microsoft Teams Live:

• April 6, 10 a.m. – Pittsburgh: RSVP to attend

Share Your Views in an Online Survey

If you want to provide more detailed input, or can’t make an engagement session, visit the Climate Action for Environmental Justice Communities StoryMap to take one or more surveys to share your views on climate challenges your community is experiencing and how DEP can better meet the climate adaptation needs of Pennsylvanians in under-resourced areas. Surveys are separated by topic area and should each take 15 minutes or less to complete. Surveys will remain open through the end of April.

To learn more about climate change in Pennsylvania and what steps we can take to fight it, please see DEP’s climate change webpage.

Please contact ra-epclimate@pa.gov for questions.