Hot enough for ya? It’s a question Pennsylvanians will hear more and more as global climate change causes temperatures to climb at an accelerated rate and the commonwealth begins to sweat things like air and water quality, insect-borne diseases and more extreme weather events, according to a report from Penn State University.

The globe’s changing climate will boost temperatures across the state, causing widespread economic, environmental, public health and even recreational changes, said James Shortle, professor of agricultural and environmental economics and lead author of the multidisciplinary report.

“The scientific data is clear,” said Mr. Shortle, who also heads the Environment and Natural Resources Institute at the university. “Climate change is happening, and there will be impacts to Pennsylvania.”

The 2015 Climate Impacts Assessment report, released Thursday, uses new scientific findings, data and analysis to predict Pennsylvania will be 5.4 degrees warmer in 2050 than it was in 2000. That means Pittsburgh’s climate will be similar to that of current-day Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia’s will resemble current-day Richmond, Va.

The 198-page report updates studies done in 2009 and 2013 for the state Department of Environmental Protection in response to a 2008 legislative directive to assess the long-range impacts of climate change in the state. It says changes in the state’s climate will likely:

• Worsen air quality, increasing pollen concentrations, smog and asthma attacks.

• Increase insect-borne diseases such as West Nile virus and Lyme disease.

• Create more favorable conditions for agricultural pests and weeds.

• Increase storms and flooding, causing threats to safe drinking water and reliable energy supplies.

• Produce less snow, with the result that ski resorts “are not expected to remain economically viable past mid-century.”

“This report shows that climate change is reality and it will get worse, and it will affect key sectors of the economy, our health, and our quality of life,” said DEP Secretary John Quigley. “We must respond to this challenge, and do so in a way that strengthens Pennsylvania’s economy and improves the environment we live in.”

Climate change could also cause favorable outcomes, the report found. Because of longer growing seasons and higher temperatures, farmers could plant different crops and current crops could have bigger yields. But the state’s dairy farms will be hurt because of heat stress.

The department will collect public comments on the report for 60 days, through Nov. 4, DEP spokesman Neil Shader said, adding, “We’ll be talking about policy changes at a later date.”

All submissions must include the commenter’s name and address. Commenters are encouraged to use the department’s online eComment tool at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/​eComment. Written comments should be submitted to Department of Environmental Protection, Policy Office, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063, or by email to ecomment@pa.gov.

The full climate report is available online at: http://​www.elibrary.dep.state.pa.us/​dsweb/​Get/​Document-108310/​2700-BK-DEP4494.pdf.

Don Hopey: dhopey@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1983 or on Twitter @donhopey.

First Published: August 27, 2015, 5:24 p.m.
Updated: August 28, 2015, 2:43 a.m.