The 2026 Climate Solutions Symposium will bring together leading experts to address two urgent challenges: climate extremes and the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping our climate future. The event will also mark the official launch of Prepare PA, a new statewide climate network for the commonwealth. During plenary sessions held Monday through Wednesday, speakers will share the latest insights, research and strategies on these topics. Registration is open through May 1.
The first plenary session, held Monday morning, will introduce Prepare PA and officially launch Pennsylvania's climate resilience network. Jacqueline O'Connor, professor of engineering and interim director of the Penn State Climate Consortium, will outline how climate change is already affecting the state. This includes more frequent billion-dollar weather disasters and increasing risks to infrastructure, agriculture and public health. She will also share the network's structure and first-year priorities, which focus on building connections among partners across the commonwealth to strengthen capacity for addressing climate challenges in local communities. The session will include stories from founding partners that highlight the impactful work already underway across Pennsylvania.
"This session is about bringing people together around a shared challenge that is already affecting communities across Pennsylvania, while offering a clear picture of the risks we face and the opportunities to respond," O'Connor said. "Attendees will see how Prepare PA is building the connections and momentum needed to turn knowledge into action and how they can be part of advancing climate solutions across the commonwealth."
The Tuesday morning panel "How the Keystone State Can Shape a Future of Clean-Powered, Human-Centered AI" will examine the growing role of artificial intelligence as critical infrastructure and its often-hidden environmental costs. Featuring perspectives from academia and industry, the session will explore energy use, carbon impacts, and electricity demand associated with data centers. It will also highlight opportunities for Pennsylvania to lead in developing a more sustainable, replicable model for AI infrastructure.
The Tuesday panel will be moderated by Travis Lesser, an instructor in the Smeal College of Business and director of the Center for the Business of Sustainability. Panelists include Roy Canagarajah, a development economist with the World Bank, and Eli Andrews, an adjunct instructor in the Smeal College of Business and CEO of civicIQ, a firm dedicated to sustainable power.
"Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming core infrastructure, yet its environmental costs remain largely invisible," Andrews said. "From power consumption and carbon emissions to impacts on electricity bills, much of this remains hidden behind the meter in data centers. This session brings together academic and industry perspectives to explore how we can create a replicable blueprint for sustainable AI infrastructure - one that Pennsylvania is well positioned to lead."
The Wednesday plenary, "Investigating Pennsylvania's Precipitation Extremes," will examine the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather across the state, from droughts to flooding, driven by climate change. Experts from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Environmental Protection will discuss how the commonwealth monitors, prepares for and responds to these events, as well as ongoing efforts to strengthen resilience.
The panel will be moderated by Christine Kirchhoff, associate professor of engineering and associate director of the Penn State Climate Consortium. Panelists will include Scott Stuccio, a state meteorologist for PA Emergency Management Agency (PEMA); Erik Leeds, a resilience officer for PEMA; Jason Minnich, the Commonwealth drought coordinator for PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); and James Horton, an environmental program manager for DEP.
"Climate extremes are already reshaping Pennsylvania," Kirchhoff said. "This panel is a chance to hear how PEMA and PA DEP are helping communities navigate this new normal, and how we build a more resilient commonwealth together."
The 2026 Climate Solutions Symposium will be held May 18-20 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center. The three-day event will include a keynote presentation, panel discussions, breakout sessions and networking opportunities for those working to advance climate solutions - including researchers, funders, policymakers and practitioners.
The event is organized by the Penn State Climate Consortium.
