This document is Charleston County's first Greenhouse Gas Inventory which provides greenhouse gas emissions data for the entire County, County government, and separate data about municipalities within the County. This inventory will be used as a starting point for planning and implementing actions to reduce these emissions. This report includes data for calendar year 2018 and 2020 in order to compare emissions from one business-as-usual year and one year impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
To learn more about greenhouse gas emissions, visit the Greenhouse Gas Emissions page.
On March 10, 2021, Charleston County Council adopted a resolution that encourages the development and implementation of an equity-centered, community-based, integrated climate action plan.
Charleston County has taken a proactive approach to building resilience by completing the Multi-Hazard Vulnerability and Risk Assessment. It incorporates science-based insights on future impacts of key hazards and climate stressors and is designed to support and inform the work identified in the county’s Comprehensive Plan, Hazard Mitigation Plan, Emergency Operations Plan, and the Resilience & Sustainability Advisory Committee. The assessment provides county-focused information on community vulnerability and risk, supplementing the information in the South Carolina Strategic Statewide Resilience and Risk Reduction Plan. It also aligns with and supports the greater objectives outlined in the South Carolina Disaster Relief and Resilience Act.
The assessment was conducted using the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit’s “Steps to Resilience” Framework. The project required close collaboration with county staff to gain a clear understanding of their priorities and specific needs. Workshops were held with county staff and a focus group of community leaders, gathering input and sharing findings throughout the project.
This approach allowed us to identify the most significant risks and vulnerable assets, aligning our assessment with existing hazard mitigation and resilience plans. The goal of the Assessment is to provide clear, actionable recommendations to strengthen the county’s resilience to future climate challenges by building upon progress the county has already achieved.