The 2026 Climate Solutions Symposium hosted by Penn State will bring together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to address climate extremes and the environmental footprint of artificial intelligence. The event will formally launch Prepare PA, a statewide climate resilience network designed to strengthen local capacity across Pennsylvania.
The three-day event in May 2026 will highlight how climate change is already impacting the state. It will explore practical, scalable solutions at the intersection of technology, energy, and resilience.
Event Details and Objectives
The symposium is scheduled for May 18–20, 2026 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center. It will serve as a collaborative platform to synthesize research, policy, and on-the-ground practice.
The focus is on making climate resilience more actionable for local communities and state agencies alike. Attendees will engage in dialogues about climate extremes, infrastructure risk, and the responsible deployment of advanced technologies in weather and energy systems.
Prepare PA: A Statewide Climate Resilience Network
Prepare PA represents Penn State’s commitment to translating climate science into community-ready actions. The network aims to strengthen local capacity across the commonwealth by fostering partnerships and knowledge sharing.
Its goal is to translate research into practical resilience measures. Prepare PA’s first-year priorities center on building a durable statewide collaboration that accelerates implementation of evidence-based climate solutions.
- Partnership-building: Linking researchers, local governments, nonprofits, and industry to share best practices.
- Knowledge translation: Turning climate data and models into usable guidance for municipalities and stakeholders.
- Actionable outcomes: Piloting resilience projects that reduce risk in infrastructure, agriculture, and public health.
AI as Emerging Critical Infrastructure: Energy, Emissions, and Costs
A key focus of the symposium will be a Tuesday panel examining AI as emerging critical infrastructure. Moderated by Travis Lesser, the session features economists and technology leaders who argue for sustainable models of AI deployment.
Panelists include Roy Canagarajah, development economist, and Eli Andrews, CEO of civicIQ, who will discuss hidden energy use, carbon footprints, and electricity demand tied to data centers. The conversation will explore strategies to make AI deployment more energy- and carbon-conscious while mitigating impacts on electricity bills for consumers and businesses statewide.
Investigating Pennsylvania’s Precipitation Extremes
The Wednesday plenary, titled “Investigating Pennsylvania’s Precipitation Extremes”, will address the rising frequency and intensity of droughts and floods that climate change is amplifying. Officials from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Environmental Protection will share ongoing monitoring, preparedness, response, and resilience efforts across the state.
This session highlights the integration of science with public safety and policy to bolster statewide readiness for extreme weather events.
What to Expect: Program Highlights and Networking
The symposium will feature a robust program that includes a keynote address, breakout sessions, and extensive networking opportunities. It is designed to connect researchers, funders, policymakers, and practitioners who are actively advancing climate solutions in Pennsylvania.
Keynotes, Breakouts, and Networking
- Keynote presentations by leading voices in climate science, energy systems, and resilience planning.
- Breakout sessions focusing on actionable topics such as climate risk assessment, adaptation planning, and sustainable AI infrastructure.
- Networking opportunities that enable collaborations across academia, government, and industry to accelerate implementation of climate solutions.
Why This Symposium Matters for Pennsylvania
By convening diverse stakeholders around climate resilience and the environmental impacts of AI, the event aims to accelerate the translation of research into practice.
The formal launch of Prepare PA signals a coordinated statewide effort to ensure that knowledge leads to real-world improvements in infrastructure resilience, public health, and economic stability as Pennsylvania faces evolving climate risks.
Here is the source article for this story: Climate symposium plenaries to discuss extremes, AI and new climate network