 |
Helpful links for more information
on Climate Change in South Carolina:
|
South Carolina and Global Warming
What is Global Warming?
Greenhouse gasses, which are released as a consequence of burning
of fossil fuels, warm the planet by trapping heat which would
otherwise escape from our atmosphere. Since these gasses regulate
the temperature of the earth, an increase in the amount of greenhouse
gasses raises the average temperature of the planet. As these
gasses increase, the planet warms up which causes the global
climate system to change. Scientists are reporting climate shifts
across the planet, which are caused by global warming. If left
unchecked, global warming will create devastating impacts across
the world, and right here in South Carolina.
How do we know Global Warming is Real?
The worldwide scientific community has reached the most overwhelming
scientific consensus in history. Every single major scientific
body in the United States, and across the world is in agreement
that global warming is real, it is caused by humans, and must
be dealt with soon to avoid catastrophic impacts. The issue now
cuts across political and cultural lines. Republicans and Democrats
alike, along with many states, local governments, community groups
and churches across the nation and the state now recognize global
warming is an urgent and serious issue that we must deal with.
If We Do Not Act, How Will Global Warming Affect South Carolina?
Without serious action to address global warming, the Palmetto
State will be one of the hardest hit places in the nation. South
Carolinians do not have to accept these devastating impacts.
We have the ability to stop global warming from becoming a disaster,
and in the process we can improve our state’s economy. Unless
something is done, impacts to our cultural and natural heritage
will include:
- Damage to the Economy: If we do not address global warming, our
state’s economy will be at risk. Tourism, a $15 billion industry
in South Carolina, will be drastically affected. The costs of responding
to just one drought in 2000 cost the state over $3 million in lost
tourism revenues. The costs from hurricanes and sea level rise
is in the billions of dollars. The 2005 hurricane season, marked
as the worst in history, cost the insurance industry over $60 billion,
forcing insurers to raise rates. Global warming unchecked means
even higher rates, and more damage from hurricanes, potentially
costing the state untold billions of dollars. Even just the threat
of a hurricane can cost up to $50 million to the state for necessary
evacuation efforts.
- Threats to Our Quality of Life: If we allow
global warming to continue, temperatures will continue to rise
in South Carolina. This is expected to create unbearable heatwaves,
extreme droughts, beach erosion, loss of wetlands, barrier deterioration,
increased insect populations, and the migration of tropical disease.
All of these factors will affect almost every aspect of life
in the Palmetto State. Unchecked, global warming could cause
outbreaks of infectious disease, heat related illness and death.
Our fishermen along the coast will be affected by degraded fisheries.
Our farmers will likely loose crops to drought and disease as
northern climates become more suitable for agriculture. The unbearable
heat waves will make life for anyone who works outside extremely
difficult. Our coastal residents can expect to experience severe
damage to their homes, unthinkable insurance rates, and many
places will eventually be underwater permanently if we do not
take action.
- Threats to our Cultural and
Natural Heritage: Much of South Carolina’s
historic buildings and sites are threatened by the impacts of
global warming. Many of these places, which are so important
to our cultural heritage, could be lost forever. Our natural
heritage that we love, including the beautiful beaches, barrier
islands, rivers, wetlands, fisheries, wildlife, farms and forests
stretching up to the mountains that make our state a gem in the
South could be devastated if we do not act soon to lower greenhouse
gas emissions.
- Devastating Sea Level
Rise: If
we do not act, much of South Carolina’s treasured historic and
natural areas along the coast will be swallowed by the rising
ocean. The sea level is rising right now because of warming ocean
temperatures and from melting glaciers and ice shelves.
- More Catastrophic Hurricanes: Unchecked
global warming is expected to bring more intense hurricanes to
the state. We simply cannot afford the human and economic costs
of these storms. Hurricane Hugo devastated South Carolina in
1989, taking 20 lives and costing the state $7 billion. The southeast
was recently shocked by the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, which
took over 1,000 lives, permanently displaced over 250,000 people
and cost $125 billion.
The Good News: Fighting Global Warming Benefits the Economy
Fighting climate change is the right thing to do to protect our
state, and it is a fight we can win. The Southeast region is
one of the top 10 biggest contributors of global warming pollution
on the planet; furthermore, South Carolina is one of the top
five highest users of electricity per person in the nation. We
must decrease our greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of
fossil fuels in cars and power plants. We still have an opportunity
to act and to prevent the worse effects from happening. We can
protect our state and become a national leader in the fight against
global warming. We can rise to meet the challenge, while pointing
other states in the right direction. As we do so, we will prevent
the impacts from occurring and simultaneously make money in the
process. Fighting global saves and makes money, creates jobs,
and makes our state and nation more energy independent. Here’s
how:
- Saving and Making Money: Saving energy in South Carolina through
energy efficiency measures can save money, negating the need for
56 coal fired power plants in Southeast. This means that utilities
do not have to build any more polluting coal plants that pump out
greenhouse gasses. For example, in a recent Florida study, it was
found that energy efficiency measures over 15 years would save
customers over $28 billion as opposed to constructing new power
plants. Energy efficiency means serious savings for the consumer.
Furthermore, South Carolina can jump into emerging renewable energy
markets with investment in biofuels like ethanol and power from
hydrogen keeping money here in the state, and staking our claim
in the new green energy economy.
- Jobs Creation: The shift from
outdated polluting energy sources to technologically advanced
renewable energy will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs
across the country. In a study conducted by the Tellus Institute
in 2001, it was found that South Carolina could generate 20,000
new jobs by investing in clean energy by 2020. South Carolina
stands to benefit from this new jobs growth, and the sooner we
get to work as a state on fighting global warming, the sooner
we will start seeing these jobs appear here. Fighting climate
change creates:
- Energy Efficiency and Green
Building Jobs: Energy use auditors
in existing buildings, materials manufacturing, installation
of efficient heating and lighting systems, and installation of
windows, appliances, and insulation. Solar heater jobs include:
manufacturing parts, assembling finished heating systems, installing
the heaters, providing regular maintenance, and marketing and
selling systems to consumers.
- Wind Energy Jobs: Manufacturing
parts for wind turbines and towers, construction of wind farms,
and operating and maintaining wind turbines. Manufacturing jobs
have already been created in the upstate, and research is being
conducted in Myrtle Beach to determine the feasibility of wind
power off our coast.
- Renewable Fuels Jobs: Growing
and harvesting crops for feedstock, collecting waste oils for
feedstock, manufacturing parts for production facilities, construction
of production facilities, working in the production facilities,
and distribution and marketing of fuels.
- Energy Independence: The time
has come to stop relying on unstable and hostile nations in South
America and the Middle East for polluting coal and oil. Energy
independence is a smart and obtainable goal for the USA, and
South Carolina is an important part of the puzzle. SC has the
potential to create energy from biomass, geothermal, solar, wind,
and fuel cells. Furthermore, energy efficiency can be considered
a part of South Carolina’s energy resource base.
South Carolina’s Future:
It is up to us to decide how to shape the future of our state.
South Carolina must rise to meet the challenges global warming
brings. We can prevent the worst impacts, and preserve our state’s
natural and cultural heritage that brings in 29 million visitors
each year to the Palmetto State. As we move towards energy independence
as a state and a country, we will be simultaneously saving money
for energy consumers and creating jobs and wealth. For more information,
please visit the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League’s
website at:
http://coastalconservationleague.org |
