Scrapbook Photo 03/17/24 - 120 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/33kb5tpe
Report: PA Better Prepared For Climate-Driven Threats Than Most States

LancasterOnline.com reported Tuesday on a report showing Pennsylvania was among 5 states given an “A” grade on how prepared it is to meet climate-driven, weather-related threats.

The report, States At Risk: America’s Preparedness Report Card, is a collaboration of the website Climate Central and ICF International.

“Pennsylvania is one of the leaders in preparing for the future changes in climate risks. It faces only average or below average threat levels from the four climate threats assessed, and in addition to taking strong action to address these threats in the present, Pennsylvania has taken steps to understand and plan for its climate-change related risks,” the report said.

“Still, Pennsylvania could do more to solidify its plans and much more to put them into action.”

The report covers 5 specific threats: extreme heat, drought, wildfires, inland flooding, and coastal flooding.  For Pennsylvania, the report said--

-- Extreme Heat- B+: Despite having a large number of people at elevated vulnerability to extreme heat, Pennsylvania faces a generally modest threat from extreme heat. With several climate change preparation assessments already complete, Pennsylvania has done much more than the typical state to prepare for future extreme heat threats.

-- Drought- A: Owing in large part to a thorough and detailed state water plan, Pennsylvania is one of the leaders among states in preparing for climate change-related drought risks. Combined with its low threat level, this high level of action earns the state an A.

-- Inland Flooding- B+: Pennsylvania has taken more action to understand its vulnerabilities to climate change-related inland flooding risks, and to plan for those changes, than most states. To improve its preparedness, the state should increase its efforts to put those plans into action.

-- Coastal Flooding- B-: A small portion of Pennsylvania's coast lies along the tidal portion of Delaware Bay; the state faces the second smallest threat from coastal flooding in the country. Pennsylvania's level of preparedness is typical among coastal states.

-- Wildfires- N/A: Grades were assigned only when threats were identified as priorities for that state.

In a more detailed discussion of the actions Pennsylvania has taken on the 5  climate-related threats, the report also found--

-- Addressing Current Risks: Strong;

-- Conducting Vulnerability Assessments: On 4 of the threats ranked a Strong, Extreme Heat was Fair;

-- Planning for Adaptation: On 4 of the threats ranked a Strong, Inland Flood was Fair;

-- Implementing Resilience Actions: Drought- Fair, Extreme Heat and Coastal Flooding- Limited and on Inland Flooding- None.

Among the actions already taken were--

— The Pennsylvania Department of Health keeps state-level statistics on the counts of deaths from inland flooding and exposure to excessive heat.

— Pennsylvania continuously tracks precipitation, streamflow, groundwater levels, soil moisture, and reservoir levels, providing real-time data and analysis of drought and  ooding conditions throughout the state.

— The Pennsylvania Climate Impacts Assessment includes extensive information on modeling of future temperature, precipitation, and sea level rise, and projected impacts on different sectors throughout the state.

— The Pennsylvania Climate Adaptation Planning Report contains a discussion of adaptation measures for infrastructure and public health to address current and future risks, including drought, sea level rise, precipitation, and temperature.

— The State Water Plan incorporates climate change projections for temperature, precipitation and drought, and sea level

rise into its policy recommendations intended to promote sustainable water services in the state.

Among the weaknesses cited where--

-- No evidence of of cial state funding or policies across sectors examined to improve resilience against climate change-related extreme heat, inland  ooding, drought, or coastal  ooding.

-- Very little evidence of action to incorporate climate change projections associated with extreme heat or drought into state- level programs, investments, and activities across the sectors examined. No evidence of action to incorporate climate change projections associated with inland and coastal flooding.

-- The Pennsylvania Climate Adaptation Planning Report has not included formal incorporation of previous adaptation recommendations.

Overall, the analysis found that states across the country are largely unprepared to face the considerable and significantly increasing threat levels posed by the future changes in these 5 climate threats.

California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York also earned an “A.”

A copy of the report is available online.

For more information on climate issues in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s Climate Change and the Climate Change Advisory Committee webpages.

NewsClips:

Report: PA Better Prepared For Climate-Driven Threats

PA Hopes To Be Among First To Comply With EPA Clean Power Climate Plan

Paris Climate Talks From A PA Perspective

Philadelphia Issues First Climate Change Adaptation Report

Pittsburgh Mayor Heads To Paris For Climate Summit

Philly Has Much To Gain, Lose From Paris Climate Talks

Erie Benedictines Pledge To Reduce Carbon Pollution

Climate Change: The Engineer’s Dilemma In Philadelphia

Petitioners Press Penn State For More Action On Climate

Meteorologist: Warmest Start To Winter Since 1953

McGinty Wants US To Lead Climate Talks

Op-Ed: Casey Again Strong On Climate Issues

Op-Ed: US Must Do Its Share To Back Green Climate Fund

Op-Ed: Ask Alexander Hamilton About Climate Change

Op-Ed: Nuclear Power Essential To Countering Climate Change

Editorial: Climate Matters, In York And Beyond

Editorial: The Climate Nuts Meet

Editorial: UN Climate Conference Must Produce Plan

Reagan, Bush Reveal Contrast With Today’s GOP On Climate, Environment

How Mayors From Seattle To Shenzhen Lead On Pollution

Developing Nations Resist Bid For Carbon Goals

11 Countries Haven’t Made Pledges For Climate Deal

U.S. House Votes To Thwart Power Plant Climate Rule

Bloomberg: Obama’s Climate Push Likely To Survive GOP Foes

AP: Climate Negotiators Take Obama Comments To Heart

Climate Talks: What Happened, What’s Next

Climate Talks Get Down To Tough Business Of Compromise

Obama Urges World Action On Climate Change

A Path Beyond The Paris Climate Change Talks

Unusual Allies In Carbon-Tax Debate

Appalachia Grasps For Hope As Coal Loses Its Grip

Bloomberg: Big Oil’s War On King Coal

Clean Coal Technology Fails To Capture World’s Attention

Key Lawmaker Opens New Front In Climate Report Fight

Paris Climate Deal More Likely After Terror Attacks

Bloomberg: Momentum Growing For A Climate Deal

Key Sticking Points In UN Climate Talks

Legal Limbo Awaits Millions Of Future Climate Refugees

Hollande, Activists Gear Up For Climate Conference

Paris Deal Would Be Important First Step On Climate Change

Short Answers To Hard Questions About Climate Change

What You Need To Know About The Paris Climate Summit

Paris Climate Talks Avoid Scientists’ Idea Of Carbon Budget

Climate Change Pledges, Will They Fix Anything?

Holding Warming Under 2 Degrees May Already Be Too Late

Scientists Dispute 2 Degree Climate Model

Another Danger Of Climate Change: Giant Flying Boulders?

Obama’s Legacy At Stake In Paris Talks On Climate Accord

Paris Summit Already A Win For Obama, Planet Remains In Danger

Obama, Gates To Lead Major Effort On Climate Research

Bill Nye Tells You About Climate Change

BBC: 6 Graphics Explain Climate Change

Related Stories:

PA Doesn’t Have That Far To Go To Meet EPA Clean Power Climate Plan Limits

Philadelphia Releases First Climate Adaptation Report

Academy Of Natural Sciences’ Carol Collier On Beginning Of The UN Climate Conference

DEP Comment Period On EPA Clean Power Plan Closed, You Can Read What Others Said

Report: Another 3,048 MW Of Wind Power Could Be Built In PA, Offshore In Erie

Hershey Expands Sustainable Sourcing Efforts With New Deforestation Commitments

Weis Markets Becomes 2nd Food Retailer To Receive Grocery Stewardship Certification

Pittsburgh Green Workplace Challenge Highest Scoring Organizations Recognized

Duquesne University’s Sustainability MBA Lands On Another Top 10 Listing

PUC Video: Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audits, Tips On Saving Energy

Op-Ed: Climate Change A National Security Threat, Tom Ridge


12/7/2015

Go To Preceding Article     Go To Next Article

Return to This PA Environment Digest's Main Page