Conservation Voters of South Carolina

Fact Sheet

  • Climate change is the single greatest threat to South Carolina's cultural heritage, economic vitality, and ecological diversity
  • With over 3,000 miles of tidal shoreline, SC is especially vulnerable to the threat of rising seas.
  • Urgent action is needed now to address climate change – we have 40 years to cut emissions by 80% in order to avoid the worst consequences of climate change.
  • Many of the solutions to climate change will stimulate the economy and help provide relief from rising energy costs for consumers.
  • America has a moral responsibility to be part of the global solution in reducing pollution that contributes to greenhouse gases.
  • Promoting a new, clean energy economy that creates jobs, saves consumers money, and protects our environment.
  • Renewable energy like wind, solar and biofuels can transform and grow our economy particularly in rural areas.
  • $740 million leaves South Carolina each year in order to buy Appalachian coal to fuel our dirty coal plants
  • Coal-fired power plants are the leading cause of respiratory illness – each coal plant can cause over 300 asthma attacks per year.
If SC were a country, we would be the 38th largest contributor of carbon emissions in the world.

A bipartisan poll in 2007 found that while Republicans and Democrats disagree on the cause of climate change, a majority of both agree that urgent action is needed to reduce carbon emissions.