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The survey finds that a majority of Pennsylvania likely voters attribute climate change to human activity and support holding oil and gas companies financially responsible for climate adaptation costs.

Pennsylvania's municipal governments are projected to spend at least $15.47 billion by 2040 to adapt to climate change, with stormwater drainage capacity representing the largest expense at $7.8 billion. The report highlights that these costs will disproportionately affect rural, high-poverty, and Environmental Justice areas, with some small municipalities facing annual per capita costs exceeding $1,000. The authors argue that major oil and gas companies should be held legally accountable for these costs rather than taxpayers.

The document argues for the necessity of federally funded monitoring networks to track mercury in air, water, and wildlife, and to modernize air quality monitoring in the U.S. It highlights the health risks of methylmercury, the impact of global emissions and climate change on U.S. deposition, and the need for high-resolution air quality data in overburdened communities to address disparities in pollution exposure.

The document analyzes cancer risks from air toxics in Allegheny County, PA, highlighting that the county ranks among the worst in the U.S. for point source emissions, primarily driven by coke oven emissions. It further notes that when diesel particulate matter (DPM) is included, the total cancer risk exceeds 100 per million people, with significant disparities affecting environmental justice (EJ) tracts.

The report presents a model for urban watershed restoration in the Pittsburgh region, specifically focusing on the 6.5 square mile Nine Mile Run watershed. It argues for 'restorative redevelopment,' which embeds the removal of stormwater from sewer systems into the incremental process of urban renewal. By using 'green infrastructure'—such as bioretention areas, porous pavements, and cisterns—the model aims to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) while providing community benefits like beautification and recreational amenities. The report details four sample designs (Hunter Park, Edgewood Crossroads, Sterrett School, and Regent Square Gateway) that meet specific hydrologic and budget criteria, and recommends the establishment of a permanent coordinating body to manage the watershed across municipal boundaries.