diff --git a/examples/build_scripts/build_gaea_c5_gcc.sh b/examples/build_scripts/build_gaea_c5_gcc.sh
index 03529d27..45908b6c 100644
--- a/examples/build_scripts/build_gaea_c5_gcc.sh
+++ b/examples/build_scripts/build_gaea_c5_gcc.sh
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ git clone --recursive https://github.com/NOAA-GFDL/pace
 cd pace
 
 # create a conda environment for pace
-conda create -y --name my_name python=3.8
+conda create -y --name my_name python=3.11.9
 
 # enter the environment and update it
 conda activate my_name
diff --git a/examples/build_scripts/build_ppan_intel.sh b/examples/build_scripts/build_ppan_intel.sh
index abf649f4..4cad3143 100644
--- a/examples/build_scripts/build_ppan_intel.sh
+++ b/examples/build_scripts/build_ppan_intel.sh
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ conda config --add envs_dirs $CONDA_PREFIX/envs
 cd $PACE_DIR
 
 # create a conda environment with cartopy and its dependencies installed
-conda create -c conda-forge -y --name $ENVIRONMENT_NAME python=3.8 matplotlib==3.5.2 cartopy==0.18.0
+conda create -c conda-forge -y --name $ENVIRONMENT_NAME python=3.11.9 matplotlib==3.5.2 cartopy==0.18.0
 
 # enter the environment and update it
 conda activate $ENVIRONMENT_NAME