South Carolina
Global climate change poses risks to human health and to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Important economic resources such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and water resources also may be affected. Warmer temperatures, more severe droughts and floods, and sea level rise could have a wide range of impacts. All these stresses can add to existing stresses on resources caused by other influences such as population growth, land-use changes, and pollution.
Climate Change in South Carolina
Below are some of the potential impacts:
- By 2100 temperatures in South Carolina could increase by 3°F (with a range of 1-5°F) in all seasons (slightly less in winter and summer, slightly more in spring and fall). Higher temperatures and increased frequency of heat waves may increase the number of heat-related deaths and the incidence of heat-related illnesses.
- There are 2,876 miles of tidally influenced shoreline in South Carolina. Historical rates of accretion and erosion vary considerably across the state’s coastline — erosion has been most severe on a 20-mile section of the Grand Strand and parts of the Santee delta, while Kiawah Island is accreting at a rate of 9 feet per year.
- At Charleston, sea level already is rising by 9 inches per century, and it is likely to rise another 19 inches by 2100. The cumulative cost of sand replenishment to protect the coast of South Carolina from a 20-inch sea level rise by 2100 is estimated at $1.2-$9.4 billion.
- Erosion is likely to increase under a 1-3 foot rise in sea level. The potential for increased storm damage as a result of sea level rise is particularly high along the densely developed Grand Strand. update on sea level rise
- Sea level rise could lead to flooding of low-lying property, loss of coastal wetlands, erosion of beaches, saltwater contamination of drinking water, and decreased longevity of low-lying roads, causeways, and bridges. In addition, sea level rise could increase the vulnerability of coastal areas to storms and associated flooding.
- In addition, warmer seas could contribute to the increased intensity, duration, and extent of harmful algal blooms, that is, red tides. These blooms damage habitat and shellfish nurseries, can be toxic to humans, and can carry bacteria like those causing cholera. Brown algal tides and toxic algal blooms already are prevalent in the Atlantic. Warmer ocean waters could increase their occurrence and persistence.
- South Carolina is dominated by coastal ecosystems that provide critically important habitat for endangered and threatened species such as the American alligator, Bachman's warbler, brown pelican, loggerhead sea turtle, piping plover, red-cockaded woodpecker, shortnose sturgeon, and woodstock. Sea level rise under a changing climate could threaten many low-lying coastal ecosystems.
The above are based on from the Environmental Protection Agency's report on climate change, which uses data from the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2001).
For more info on climate change impacts on South Carolina in areas such as water resources, agriculture, forests and ecosystems, you can download pdf of full EPA Report.
CO2: How Does Your State Rank?
South Carolina is the highest emitter of C02 of all 50 states and the most populous.
Maps
See CO2 output by sector, coastal population maps, and maps of regional initiatives.
Regional Initiatives
This state does not participate in any regional initiatives.
Learn about climate initiatives in all U.S. states and regions
Your Impact
Estimate your CO2 footprint by using a carbon calculator such as the one on the Inconvenient Truth web site.
How green is your energy? The EPA has a power profiler that can tell you.
