Auditor General Eugene DePasquale on Dec. 3 announced his plan to prepare a special report detailing how Pennsylvania can respond to climate change.

In a statement he said the move is necessary in light of a failure by national leaders to recognize and act on the issue.

DePasquale said his report will focus on state government's response to climate change and steps that can better prepare the state for the future, noting that the problem will impact communities of all sizes.

DePasquale blasted the Trump administration for trying to cast doubt on the scientific and economic conclusions of its own climate change report—the Fourth National Climate Assessment.

“Willful ignorance of scientific analysis is putting future generations at risk,” DePasquale said. “The challenges we face as a result of climate change will only get worse if we fail to adopt a strategic national action plan—it's not a question of if or when; it's already happening.”

DePasquale pointed out that the federal report said the northeast region was at greater risk of extreme heat and flooding, and would face severe weather impacts on the region's aging power, water, sewer and transportation systems, as well as the impact of altered eco-systems on rural communities, farming, forestry and tourism.

DePasquale said he would conduct his own hearings as part of developing the special report, which is expected to be completed by summer.