Climate change hitting Philly region, says expert panel

It is not just about the polar bears.

Climate change is leading to increased flooding at the Jersey shore, scientists say.

And the northeastern United States is warming faster than the global average, according to a new study from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

How should the Philadelphia region respond? A panel of health and environmental experts is addressing that topic Thursday night at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.

Speakers include Patrick McDonnell, acting secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and Jerry Fagliano, chair of the department of environmental and occupational health at Drexel's Dornsife School of Public Health.

Also scheduled to speak are U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Adam Garber, the deputy director of advocacy group PennEnvironment, which is co-hosting the event.

It is the first in a series of free, public "town square" events to be held this year at the science museum on Logan Circle.

The climate-change event is scheduled to last from 7:15 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Visitors can register at this address:  http://bit.ly/2j9BQ4Z.