South Carolina's leaders are honing in on a plan to fight climate change

CONWAY, S.C. (WPDE) — The 658-page report was published by the South Carolina Floodwater Commission, tasked with finding a solution to the state's flooding problems after Hurricane Florence.

If you read a few dozen paragraphs in any portion of the report it quickly becomes clear that the commission's mission is broader than keeping rain runoff flowing toward the sea or ocean water out of the inland portions of Horry County.

This commission is trying to put South Carolina at the head of the fight against climate change.

"There's no panacea. It's a collection of strategies," Commission Chairman Thomas Mullikin said during Friday's quarterly meeting. "Before we break out and start shooting at each other, understand these are pieces to a very complex puzzle."

As the state marches past the one-year anniversary of the founding of the commission, scientists and leaders at all levels of government are beginning to hone in on specific ideas.

There are paragraphs about building artificial reefs off the coast to control erosion and promote marine life. Another section deals with "living shorelines," or plant-based coasts and river banks, as opposed to rock or concrete.

During Friday's quarterly meeting, Mullikin talked repeatedly about finding such natural-based solutions to nature-based problems. He proposed planting one million trees in South Carolina to grow the state's canopy, which he said would help stagger rain and prevent storm water systems from being overwhelmed by water reaching the ground all at once.

One million trees would also suck quite a bit of carbon out of the atmosphere and provide shade that would keep the ground below from heating up.

"We're beyond debating whether or not [the planet will warm], but how much," Mullikin told the crowd.

Governor Henry McMaster also repeated that the debate was over. Instead, he said, the debate should be focused on how much South Carolina could accomplish.

"I believe there is more talent per square inch in South Carolina than anywhere else in the world," he said during his speech.

Across Horry County Friday, hundreds of volunteers picked up trash from waterways and along roads. The day of service was created by the commission as a small early act of prevention.

As time passes, state leaders say steps will get bigger. In addition to encouraging citizens to pick up trash, leaders will be planning and executing those artificial reefs and shorelines. They're steps that cost money in order to save the county's tourism-dependent economy.

Mullikin also spoke of expanding and preparing marsh land further inland as the ocean rises and chips away at the coast line and boasted of Duke Energy's promise to become carbon-neutral in the coming decades.

McMaster wouldn't say how far he'd be willing to go when asked, instead preferring to speak more about the Palmetto State's advantages when it comes to tackling this issue.

"Someone has got to come up with the answer on things and lead," he said. "We believe that should be South Carolina."

Still, his willingness to tackle climate change, even if it's masked by flood-related discussions, puts him at odds with some politicians in his own party.

Just last week, President Donald Trump followed through with his plan to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. Despite repeatedly complaining about the "terrible terms" the United States would be subjected to, it follows a pattern some say his administration is advancing of placing the country's short-term economic interests over its long-term ecological ones.

It's not unprecedented for the governor to take this position. He was vehemently opposed to offshore drilling and seismic testing when the Trump administration explored both off of South Carolina's shores.

Eventually, his and most other local politicians' opposition helped halt those plans.

Not all of the commission's ideas are climate related. Officials are exploring ways to harden the state's power grid by burying lines underground, which would keep the lights on during hurricanes and other storms.

There is also work being done to encourage economic development that parallels the goals of storm water and climate related proposals.

The plan doesn't address the state's reliance on private vehicles, which emit carbon dioxide, to get around. It doesn't tackle overall energy usage in the state either.

Still, for communities on the front lines of rising seas like Myrtle Beach and Georgetown, and those threatened by more powerful storms, like Nichols and Lumberton, it's a start.