The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is bringing its Climate Conversation series to Pittsburgh this week, and the agency wants to hear directly from the people who live and work across our region.
The free workshop runs Saturday, June 6, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Homewood. It is open to anyone who cares about the future of our water, our energy, and our communities.
Why this matters for our watersheds
Climate and clean water are not separate stories. The same forces driving heavier storms, hotter summers, and shifting rainfall patterns also shape flooding, stormwater runoff, aging infrastructure, and the health of the streams that feed the Ohio. When DEP drafts Pennsylvania’s next climate plan, the priorities that make it onto the page will ripple through every watershed across the Upper Ohio River Basin, from the headwaters down through Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.
What to expect
DEP keeps the format simple. A short presentation lays out where the state’s climate planning stands today, followed by a listening session where attendees share feedback, concerns, and priorities. The conversation spans climate, sustainability, energy, resilience, and community needs, so there is room for whatever you bring to the table.
The agency is casting a wide net. Community members, local organizations, educators, advocates, business owners, and anyone curious about Pennsylvania’s climate future are all encouraged to show up and speak up.
Why your voice counts
Plans like this one often get written in Harrisburg conference rooms. Listening sessions are the moment when folks from places like Beaver Falls, Pittsburgh, and the small towns strung along the Ohio can make sure their realities are part of the record. If you have watched a creek jump its banks, wrestled with stormwater on your street, or worried about what a changing climate means for your community’s water, this is your chance to say so directly to the people drafting the policy.
Register and attend
- Date: Saturday, June 6
- Time: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
- Location: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Homewood
- Cost: Free and open to the public
Questions ahead of the workshop can go to Danielle Lewis, Energy Program Specialist with DEP’s Energy Programs Office, by email through the agency website at www.dep.pa.gov. Feel free to share this invitation with neighbors, colleagues, and partner organizations who deserve a seat at the table.
