Alliance members are working to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping temperature increases below 1.5 degrees Celsius by reducing emissions, accelerating action, centering equity, and tracking progress. 

Explore Pennsylvania's policies and actions across the Alliance's 10 key policy areas. Numbers presented below only reflect the number of policies in this database and thus may not reflect all climate policies pursued.

pennsylvania

GHG Targets + Governance

Just Transition + Equity

Industry

Pricing Carbon + Valuing Damages

Electricity

Transportation

Resilience

Natural + Working Lands

Climate Finance

Buildings

total

2020 State Land Use and Growth Management Report

The 2020 State Land Use and Growth Management Report contains data about land use and development in
Pennsylvania from 2015 through 2020. Prepared by the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services in
compliance with the Municipalities Planning Code, the Report was written with contributions from various state
agencies, the Pennsylvania State Planning Board, and numerous county planning agencies. It should be used as
a framework for measuring the impact of implemented policies, as well as to inform future decision-making at
all levels of government in Pennsylvania.

FY 2024-25 Budget

Governor Josh Shapiro signed into law a bipartisan $47.2 billion budget for fiscal year 2024-25 that delivers on his top priorities and creates more freedom and opportunity for all Pennsylvanians. With historic investments in education, economic development, law enforcement and violence prevention, workforce development, affordable housing, health care, public transit and infrastructure, and much more – this budget invests in the people of Pennsylvania and solves some of the most pressing issues our Commonwealth faces. This budget includes $10 Million to launch the Agricultural Innovation Grant Program.

The Agricultural Innovation Grant helps farmers and other agriculture businesses implement new agricultural technologies, conservation, and renewable energy innovations – expanding their potential to generate profits, enrich soil and water resources, and produce energy on the farm. 

Grants will reimburse expenses for project planning, on-site project implementation, and larger grants for projects that have a regional impact. Project examples include technology that:

-  Improves efficiency on the farm or in processing,
-  Generates energy while reducing nutrient waste leaving the farm,
-  Supports crops that effectively store carbon or replace non-renewable resources.

Eligible grant applications include a person or cooperative association who utilizes innovation:

-  to improve energy efficiency, improve water quality, reduce water consumption, reduce odors, or address solid waste concerns.
-  to improve production, processing, commercialization, or utilization of agricultural commodities.
-  that produces energy from agricultural sources, including manure, food waste or biomass.
-  equipment that provides low-carbon or no-carbon energy sources from agricultural commodities.
-  technology that assists eligible applicants with the management of their farms, including diagnostic tools and services.
-  technology that assists a packer, processor or cooperative in more efficient sorting, grading, or processing of agricultural commodities.
-  that improves biosecurity or health of plants or animals.
-  that supports cybersecurity or data analytics.

Agricultural Innovation Grant Program

natural_and_working_lands

Final Environmental Justice Policy Revision

The Department of Environmental Protection updated its Environmental Justice Policy to strengthen community engagement and expand public participation in the permit process, with the Office of Environmental Justice in leading its Enhanced Public Participation guidelines. The new policy also directs how the department's inspection, compliance, and enforcement efforts can better include criteria and concerns of Pennsylvania communities most at risk from pollution and other environmental impacts.

Executive Order 2019-01: Commonwealth Leadership in Addressing Climate Change and Promoting Energy Conservation and Sustainable Governance

Sets goal to reduce statewide emissions by 26% below 2005 levels by 2025, and an 80% reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 from 2005 levels. Sets goals to reduce agency energy use by 3% per year and 21% by 2025 below 2017 levels, replace 25% of state car fleet with BEV and PHEV cars by 2025, and procure enough renewable energy to offset 40% of annual agency electricity use.

The GreenGov Council – co-chaired by the Secretaries of the departments of General Services, Environmental Protection, and Conservation and Natural Resources – encourages the incorporation of environmentally sustainable practices into the Commonwealth's policy, planning, operations, procurement, and regulatory functions. The Council works with state agencies to promote best practices, continuous improvement, and success in achieving the energy efficiency and performance goals established in Executive Order 2019-01.  

The GreenGov Council launched the Pennsylvania Climate Change Mitigation and Resilience Network ("the PA Climate Network") in 2023 to promote climate problem solving and human-centered solutions for Pennsylvania. The PA Climate Network strives to be a self-sustaining, member-driven organization that connects and educates diverse stakeholders across Pennsylvania, ensuring they have the expertise, knowledge, and collaborative partnerships to advance informed climate solutions. The PA Climate Network serves as a trusted resource for sharing best practices and advancing climate education and literacy throughout the commonwealth for all Pennsylvanians.

GreenGov Council - PA Climate Network

Any new building construction project, build-to-suit leased building, or renovation project by a Commonwealth agency that costs more than 50 percent of the replacement cost of the building, where the design of the project commences after the effective date of the Executive Order, shall be designed and constructed as a high-performance building achieving a 10 percent reduction in energy consumption over ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1.2016. Agencies may seek US Green Building Council LEED certification, Green Building Initiative Green Globe rating, or a comparable numeric rating from another accredited sustainable building certification program where appropriate.

Performance Goals for State Agencies - Building Standards

All agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction shall: procure renewable energy to offset at least 40 percent of the Commonwealth’s annual electricity use and evaluate opportunities to source electricity through Pennsylvania Certified Tier I credits, and/or direct purchase of renewable power generation sited within Pennsylvania.

Performance Goals for State Agencies - Electricity Procurement

All agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction shall: replace 25% of the state passenger car fleet with battery electric and plug-in electric hybrid cars by 2025 and evaluate opportunities for the reduction of vehicle miles traveled and incorporation of new technology where appropriate.

Performance Goals for State Agencies - Transportation

All agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction shall: collectively reduce overall energy consumption by 3 percent per year, and 21 percent by 2025 from 2017 levels.

Performance Goals for State Agencies - Electricity

2025, 2050 Statewide GHG Targets

resilience

SB 300 (Act 68)

Requires the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services to prepare a comprehensive land use and growth management report every five years that contains information, data, and conclusions regarding growth and development patterns in this Commonwealth and will offer recommendations to Commonwealth agencies for coordination of executive action, regulation, and programs.