Penn State has been selected by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to lead Prepare PA, a new statewide initiative designed to help communities adapt to the growing impacts of climate change.

Run by the Penn State Climate Consortium, Prepare PA will connect partners across the state to provide Pennsylvanians with the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to “adapt, respond, and thrive” amid environmental uncertainty. The program will focus on cutting emissions, creating economic opportunities, and building local resilience through research, education, and on-the-ground collaboration.

“The key to the success of Prepare PA is the network,” said Jacqueline O’Connor, professor of engineering and interim director of the Climate Consortium, in a release. “Communities, businesses, and nonprofits across Pennsylvania already hold valuable knowledge and experience, and by sharing best practices and building strong networks, we can empower the entire commonwealth to face climate change with greater resilience.”

Prepare PA will include a public website and resource hub with science-based information, an annual statewide climate conference, and regional forums hosted with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. These efforts aim to connect residents, organizations, and local governments to share solutions and drive meaningful climate action.

O’Connor said Penn State’s statewide presence makes it a natural fit to lead the initiative.

“So many of the goals of Prepare PA — climate education, research, networking, and outreach — align closely with activities already happening at the University,” she said.

The program builds on the Pennsylvania GreenGov Council’s 2023 creation of the PA Climate Network, which brought together professionals to share climate solutions. The state has now partnered with Penn State to expand and relaunch the effort as Prepare PA.

“To build on what we have started to address climate change, the GreenGov Council has partnered with Penn State to take over the PA Climate Network and launch Prepare PA,” said Mark Hand, director of the GreenGov Council. “Penn State is a great partner to help us educate and empower the next generation of leaders in our communities, developing resilient practices we need going forward.”

Beyond collaboration, Prepare PA will emphasize education and workforce development, equipping Pennsylvanians for the sustainable jobs and innovations of the future.

Christine Kirchhoff, associate director of the Climate Consortium, said the program’s success depends on working directly with communities and policymakers.

“Prepare PA’s goal is to be responsive and proactive, connecting robust scientific knowledge and tools with the engines of discovery and innovation that can strengthen resilience across the commonwealth,” Kirchhoff said in a release.

The initiative also aligns with Penn State’s land-grant mission to serve the people of Pennsylvania through education and outreach.

“The Pennsylvania’s Constitution states that the people of Pennsylvania have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the environment for the benefit of all people,” said Peter Buck, director of education for Penn State Sustainability, in the release. “As an instrument of the state, Penn State is entrusted with leading on this right for our citizens.”

Looking ahead, O’Connor said she hopes Prepare PA builds a lasting community of action.

“Only by working together can we overcome these challenges and take advantage of all the co-benefits of these actions, including cleaner water, healthier communities, and economic growth,” O’Connor said.

Prepare PA marks a major step in Penn State’s sustainability leadership, a step that aims to help every Pennsylvanian face climate change directly, not just to study it.