Better Path Coalition, Partners Host PA Climate Convergence Sept. 30, Oct. 1-2 In Harrisburg With In-Person, Online Events

On September 30 and October 1 & 2, people from across Pennsylvania will be converging in Harrisburg to change the conversation on climate change at the PA Climate Convergence.  

The Pennsylvania Climate Convergence is a diverse, inclusive, peaceful gathering organized to demand urgent action by our government to address the climate crisis. 

The path to climate justice necessarily includes the phase out of greenhouse gas production and a just transition to clean, renewable energy for those most affected by the exploitative fossil fuel and petrochemical economy.

 Among the scheduled events are--

-- September 30: Wildfireside Chat with Bill McKibben: Bill McKibben, author and one of the founders of 350.org and more recently, founder of Third Act, will join us for a virtual open Q&A moderated by Ariana Genna. 

Genna participated in last year’s panel of youth climate leaders. A 2023 graduate of Lebanon Valley College, she is also program and grant coordinator for Elders Climate Action. 

Audience members will be able to ask their questions to Bill directly. Zoom participants will be able to submit questions that will be read by Genna. 

-- October 1: PA Climate Convergence Festival, Soldier's Grove, Harrisburg: We're taking the Convergence to the Capitol this year. Our festival will be held at Soldier's Grove across Commonwealth Avenue from the rear of the Capitol building and include these events-- 

     -- 10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Panel discussions, performances, interactive art activities, activities for kids, video booth to record your climate stories, tabling, food, and more! 

     -- 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Banned book author Alan Gratz interview with Teen Banned Books Club founder, Joslyn Diffenbaugh: Two Degrees, a climate-themed young adult novel by Gratz, was banned by the Kutztown Area School District. It's one of a disturbing wave of bans occurring in schools across the country. 

The ban backfired as Diffenbaugh and others in Kutztown fought back. As it happens, the Convergence coincides with the beginning of Banned Books week, so we're organizing a Banned Books table where festival attendees can help themselves to free copies of a selection of banned books including Two Degrees. 

Gratz will inscribe copies of that book and others of his books at a signing following the interview.

     -- 8:00 - 10 p.m. Climate Change Theatre Action: An evening of theatre, music, and more featuring a series of short plays that are among the Arts & Climate Initiative's current selections; a play written for the Convergence by CCTA playwright and Convergence organizer, Karen Elias, will round out our festival day.

-- October 2: People's Hearing on Climate Change: East Wing and Fountain, Capitol Building, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.:  The second day of our Convergence will begin with some final carving of an ice sculpture that will be installed at the fountain at the rear of the Capitol building. 

We'll hold a press conference at the fountain at 10:30 and begin the People's Hearing in the East Wing at 11. 

People across Pennsylvania will testify on their experiences living in proximity to industrial polluters, the climate impacts they have experienced, their concerns for the future, and the unusual roles they have taken performing the work neither the government nor industries are doing.

Visit the PA Climate Convergence website for all the details.

[Posted: September 15, 2023]  PA Environment Digest