South Carolina on the World Stage
In November, Sustain SC took South Carolina’s sustainability journey global–all the way to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt for the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference, otherwise known as COP27. The annual UN meeting brings countries and global experts together to address climate change and compel others to implement actionable steps toward a more sustainable future.
Sustain SC Founder Ethel Bunch served as a panelist, representing South Carolina on the world stage. It was an opportunity to be part of thought provoking discussions centered around localizing sustainable development goals, a movement in which South Carolina is already heavily involved. COP27 provided the space for the public and private sectors to collaborate on a global level and build frameworks that will drive actionable change, delving into areas like blended finance investment and prioritizing emerging clean industries.
COP27 provided the reinforcement that South Carolina is on a meaningful trajectory as a sustainability leader. It also reinforced the tenements of Sustain SC’s principles and overall mission–connect the sustainability goals of businesses in South Carolina with local solutions to benefit the economy, environment and people. Through the lens of economic development, the world is transitioning from the industrial revolution to the sustainable revolution.
Roughly 1,200 global companies call South Carolina home, which presents the unique opportunity to attract an emerging supply of economic innovations (new jobs and new investments) needed at the local level to feed the demands of business and industry. It means decreasing a company’s carbon footprint through access to alternative energy resources, sustainable agriculture technologies, carbon capture, and the circular economy. Applying a company’s global ambition to the local level accelerates the net zero, water positive, zero waste commitment, and in turn influences the transition to a clean economy.
The transition is happening in South Carolina. There have been several announcements over the last few months. Bosch is investing $200 million in the hydrogen fuel cell and $260 million in EV components in the Lowcountry, creating 700 new jobs combined. BMW is investing $1.7 billion to manufacture electric vehicles. And Redwood Materials is generating a $3.5 billion investment in a battery recycling plant in Berkeley County, a state record. Sustain SC is working with existing industries and assessing demand so South Carolina can continue to attract the next billion dollar industries.
While companies are committed to reduction strategies and investing in new green innovation, there will be a period of offset demand. This is an opportunity to balance commerce and conservation through voluntary private sector investment in the state’s beautiful natural resource based infrastructure. It means approaching natural assets as a stock portfolio, layering ecosystem values, and allowing natural capital investments towards a company's carbon and water positive goals, which will, in turn, protect the highest conservation priorities in our state.
The launch of Sustain SC’s Land and Water Action Fund in October proved this approach. Through a $500,000 investment from Google and a match from the Waccamaw Community Foundation, a portion of Waites Island, the last undeveloped barrier island protecting the South Carolina coastline, will be preserved.
South Carolina is poised and positioned to capitalize on the sustainable revolution and connect the sustainability goals of businesses in South Carolina to local solutions to ensure our economy and communities continue to thrive and ultimately make a positive impact on a global scale.
