DCNR Unveils Second Climate Action Plan

The Pennsylvania agency's plan sets 60 goals to cut emissions and protect state parks and forests from climate change impacts.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in National Parks

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The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources unveiled its second Climate Action Plan on Tuesday at the Mira Lloyd Dock Resource Conservation Center in Spring Mills. The plan outlines 60 specific goals aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting state parks and forests from climate change impacts.

Why it matters

Pennsylvania's state parks and forests face growing climate pressures, and the plan addresses them as several central Pennsylvania communities experienced significant flooding this summer. The plan also comes as the rapid expansion of data centers across the state has raised environmental concerns.

The plan sets a target of generating or offsetting all agency electricity from carbon-free sources by 2035 and cutting direct emissions 80% by 2050. The agency currently operates 40 solar arrays and 50 public electric vehicle charging stations across its properties, and the source does not state the baseline year for the emissions target.

The players

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

The state agency manages Pennsylvania's state parks and forests and oversees their conservation and environmental protection.

Gov. Josh Shapiro

Pennsylvania's governor, who has set out a framework for data center development that includes environmental protections, water conservation standards and local approval requirements.

The details

The plan addresses clean energy targets and ecosystem resilience, with a focus on forest health including planting trees, combating invasive species and addressing wildfire risks. It also includes a commitment to update all state park emergency manuals by 2030.

Summer 2026: Several central Pennsylvania communities experienced significant flooding.
November 10, 2026: The Climate Action Plan was unveiled in Spring Mills.
2030: DCNR plans to update all state park emergency manuals.
2035: Target for generating or offsetting all electricity from carbon-free sources.
2050: Target for an 80% reduction in direct greenhouse gas emissions.

Season Trajectory

The plan sits alongside Gov. Josh Shapiro's framework for data center development, which includes environmental protections, water conservation standards and local approval requirements. Both efforts respond to growing environmental pressures on Pennsylvania's land and water as the state's data center footprint expands.

Visitors to Pennsylvania state parks and forests may see changes as the agency works toward its emissions and resilience goals, including updated emergency manuals due by 2030. Travelers planning trips should check current park conditions, as flood and wildfire risks are addressed in the plan.

The takeaway

Pennsylvania's state parks and forests are a key test of how the state plans to protect public land from climate impacts over the coming decades. Readers planning park visits can expect the agency's emergency and resilience updates to shape conditions in the years ahead.