South Carolina moms take action.

Here’s what we’ve been working on in the Palmetto State!

Community Rx

Moms Clean Air Force is committed to exposing environmental injustices in the African-American community by taking a stand against environmental discrimination, holding legislators accountable for lack of resources, educating communities on their rights and their issues, standing with impacted communities, and fighting for clean air and climate solutions to promote healthy children and healthy communities.

Through our environmental health justice program Community Rx, our goal is to advocate, educate, and amplify through partnering with impacted communities and environmental justice organizations on events and resource development. We hold Table Talks around the country, casual gatherings that organize, motivate, and activate volunteers, partner with churches to use our “Breath of Life” Bible Study, and provide information on environmental health issues in African-American communities.

Our children breathe unhealthy air.

Florence, South Carolina ranks among the cleanest cities in the United States for both ozone and short-term particle pollution. However, many South Carolina residents face more unhealthy breathing days than in years past.

In their 2019 State of the Air report, the American Lung Association found that the cities of Anderson, Charleston, Greenville, and Spartanburg had the worst ozone air pollution since their 2016 report. Charleston County also had more unhealthy ozone days in their 2019 report, moving Charleston off the list of cleanest cities in the nation after four straight years.

Ozone is a powerful lung irritant that can trigger asthma attacks, interfere with normal lung development, and increase the risk of respiratory infections. Ozone is created in the atmosphere when heat and sunlight combine with oil and gas pollution. Rising temperatures due to climate change are making these dangerous breathing days more prevalent.

“South Carolina residents should be aware that we’re breathing unhealthy air, driven by extreme heat as a result of climate change, placing our health and lives at risk.”

–American Lung Association Director of Advocacy, June Deen

Moms Clean Air Force South Carolina is working to educate parents on the links between asthma and air quality, and fighting for stronger protections so that children in South Carolina do not have to play inside.

Sea level rise endangers our communities.

With 187 miles of coastline, South Carolina is vulnerable to sea level rise. Without action on climate change, as many as 34,000 people by 2045 in South Carolina are at risk of displacement due to sea level rise– with over 16,000 homes worth almost 9 billion dollars.

South Carolina residents are also concerned about sea level rise as a coastal state that cherishes its beaches and thrives on beach-related tourism. Limiting the pollution that fuels extreme weather and threatens our coastal resources is more important than ever.

Our state must set carbon limits to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

South Carolina can become a leader in carbon emission reductions and climate action by bringing 21st century energy solutions to the state. Reducing emissions reduces air pollution and can improve public health by lowering asthma attacks, heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer, and even premature death.

The most recent carbon limits released were from South Carolina’s 2008 Climate, Energy, and Commerce Action Plan. It only offers a voluntary goal of reducing emissions by 5% by 2020. This plan is dangerously out of date. Moms in South Carolina need stronger carbon limits with measurable goals to address climate change today and protect our children’s health now and in the future.

Past Events

November 2019:

South Carolina moms attended the historic Environmental Justice Presidential Forum at South Carolina State University.

July 2019:

Members of Moms Clean Air Force South Carolina attended the sixth annual Play-In for Climate Action on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

February 2019:

Monday, February 18, 2019: The Community Rx Program kicked off our launch week with a Facebook LIVE featuring Community Rx Organizer, Shakeila James, to give in-depth introduction of Moms Clean Air Force, the Community Rx Program, and the format for this amazing launch week!

Watch the livestream video here.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019: Moms Clean Air Force held simultaneous Community Rx Table Talk events in the tri-state area of SC, NC, and GA. Three Table Talks in South Carolina (Greenville, Columbia, Florence) and three Table Talks in North Carolina (Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh) helped introduce Community Rx.

Watch the livestream video here.

Wednesday, February 20, 2019: Moms Clean Air Force held a LIVE Bible Study event featuring an interactive discussion on the connectedness between God’s commandments and the earth, us and the earth, the call on the community and why churches and communities of faith are important to the environmental justice movement.

Watch the livestream video here.

Thursday, February 21, 2019: Moms Clean Air Force held a Facebook LIVE with Shakeila James and Chancee Lundy Russell to discuss the importance of living clean and building clean.

Watch the livestream video here.

July 2018:

Members of Moms Clean Air Force South Carolina attended the fifth annual Play-In for Climate Action on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

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