South Carolina

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 2021 State of the Air report, the American Lung Association found that while year-round particle pollution levels in the Greenville/Spartanburg area have improved, these cities experienced the same number of high ozone days as recorded in the 2020 report. Charleston, South Carolina, had even more unhealthy ozone days in the 2021 report. The city was kicked off the list of cleanest cities in the nation for ozone in 2019 and has not been able to find its way back.

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.

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

March 2021

On March 19, Moms Clean Air Force joined our partners at South Carolina Interfaith Power and Light and Sustaining Way for a virtual screening of the documentary The Human Element. The screening was followed by a panel discussion of important climate and social justice issues facing the American Southeast.

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

On February 21, 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.

On February 20, 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.

On February 19, 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.

On February 18, 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.

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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