Statistics
- South Carolina ranks 27th for total carbon emissions nationally.
- The state emits 75 million metric tons of carbon every year.
- South Carolina has had a 97.7% increase in transportation carbon emissions since 1984.
- 16 of the past 17 years have been the warmest on record.
- 2016 was the warmest year on record, with 12 of the months that make up the year being the warmest on record as well.
- According to the Coastal Conservation League, "[t]he southeastern region of the United States ranks 6th worldwide in GHG emissions while South Carolina ranks 28th nationally."
The left image shows the South Carolina coast with a "very high" vulnerability to sea level rise. A study from Appalachian State University "estimated the economic impacts on real estate, recreation, and business and industry" would result in "3.2 and 3.7 billion dollars in real estate losses" due to changing coastlines (Kettle 167). One major factor to consider is that tourism in South Carolina is a $20.2 billion dollar industry and it accounts for 1 in every 10 jobs in the state. The tourism is largely based on the coastline, Charleston, which as shown on the graph is very vulnerable to sea level rises. The damage to this industry would be extremely disadvantageous to the growing economy, hence something must be done.
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The image on the right shows the rising average temperature for South Carolina. The average temperature has been increasing for decades. It is at an all time high. The rising temperatures mainly threaten the agriculture in South Carolina. The agriculture industry is a 41.7 billion industry, according to Farm Flavor, and 212 thousand jobs are based around the agribusiness of South Carolina. The industry is the biggest industry in South Carolina and rising temperatures could damage that. The rising temperatures could lead to droughts and warmer climate could change the types of crops the state thrives on.
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