South Carolina’s Population Boom Creates Challenges to Climate Goals

• NPG
• May 13, 2024
• NPG Commentary
• 0 Comments

Is South Carolina’s Green Future at Risk?

In a recent fact-filled article by Ian Kayanja on ABCNEWS4, environmental scientist Leon Kolankiewicz sheds light on the unintended consequences of South Carolina’s rapid population growth. According to Kolankiewicz, the state has lost 2,126 square miles of rural land to urban sprawl from 1982 to 2017, ranking it 11th out of 49 states analyzed in this category, a concerning statistic given its size. (Equivalent to roughly 7% of the state’s land area, this loss is greater than the entire state of Delaware!) This expansion not only exacerbates the climate crisis by increasing the number of energy consumers but also poses significant threats to the state’s natural habitats, wildlife, and air quality.

“You are making it very difficult to achieve your climate goals by increasing the number of energy consumers,” Kolankiewicz warns, highlighting the unsustainable pace of development and rural land loss. The United States Census Bureau’s report labels South Carolina and Florida as two of the fastest-growing states, with both states experiencing 5% population growth from 2020 to 2023. This rapid expansion, while often celebrated as economic success, brings us closer to an existential environmental crisis.

The loss of rural lands to urban sprawl cripples the environment, with wildlife losing natural grazing land, farmers losing farmland, and deforestation contributing to dramatic drops in air quality. Kolankiewicz’s study emphasizes that continuing this pattern of habitat and farmland destruction at even the lower rate observed from 2002 to 2017 is unsustainable for a country that values food independence and the stewardship of its flora and fauna.

In response to this alarming trend, Kolankiewicz calls for population stabilization and more efficient land usage, suggesting measures like controlling migration to curb “uncontrolled exponential growth” and finding alternatives to low-density land use that consumes excessive resources. He also advocates for increasing the use of electric vehicles in rural, car-dependent communities to help sustain the natural beauty of these areas for future generations.

This article underscores the critical need for action and aligns with NPG’s goal to “slow, halt, and eventually reverse population growth, eventually reaching a sustainable size for the long haul.” The time to act is now if we wish to preserve the environment and ensure a sustainable future.

We urge you to join our efforts to address these serious challenges. Your support is crucial in advocating for policies that preserve our environment for future generations. Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our work towards a healthier planet for all.

Together, we can make a difference.

To read more about South Carolina, click here.

To read more from Leon Kolankiewicz, click here.

 Through your continued support and donations to NPG, we can advocate for these necessary changes.

Make a Difference – Donate Now