PENNSYLVANIA — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection celebrated Earth Week 2025 with litter cleanups, grant availability announcements and the release of two new reports on Pennsylvania and climate change. 

One of these reports, the 2024 Pennsylvania Climate Impacts Assessment, reviews current scientific findings and climate projections to identify relative risks that will be used to inform the Commonwealth's Climate Action Plan, according to its executive summary. 

"Pennsylvania is expected to get hotter with dangerous heat waves and droughts, while at the same time experiencing more intense storms and damaging flooding," according to the report. 

The annual average temperature is rising, and is expected to increase by 6.7 degrees  Farenheight by mid-century, compared to baseline conditions from 1971 to 2000. This increase will include more frequent and intense extreme heat events. 

Pennsylvania is expected to receive more total average rainfall, occuring in less frequent but heavier rain events. Both extreme rainfall events and droughts are expected to become more frequent. 

For the full climate impacts assessment, click here. For the Pennsylvania climate change webpage, click here.