The Charleston Climate Coalition (CCC) grew out of a need to fill what was seen as a void – the lack of organized activism around the very real impacts of climate change happening right in the community. Inspired by the Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and spurred on by a rally in 2019 that brought together like-minded individuals, the group formalized in 2020 to create alliances within the community, and between private and public organizations to tackle the global climate crisis by starting locally, in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Through their four “working circles” – Art & Media, Event Planning, Climate Alliances, and its Climate Action Plan Campaign – CCC’s mission is to brand itself as the leader in climate activism in the vulnerable Southeast region.
Under the tenets of making climate activism joyful, impactful and inclusive, CCC actively cultivates partnerships that cross boundaries by co-hosting events with allies, collaborating with educational institutions and sustainable businesses, and building momentum across communities to continue to push for, publicly debate and pass climate resolutions, one by one. In a remarkably short time and by immersing themselves in local politics, CCC was successful in getting two climate resolutions passed in James Island and Charleston County, pushing back on Dominion Energy South Carolina’s attempt to kill rooftop solar, and advocating for Charleston’s Climate Action Plan. CCC is actively advocating for municipalities around the Lowcountry to join Charleston to collaboratively address the climate crisis by creating their own climate action plans. Other ongoing CCC projects include publishing a quarterly climate action magazine, Surge; continuing to form green alliances with local businesses, farms, educators, churches, social justice groups, and others; maintaining a comprehensive environmental justice profile to assess the unique hazards and vulnerabilities of communities on a case-by-case basis; and hosting events for education and mobilization.
For more information:
Will Magnolia be the Neck’s jewel or an environmental wart? – Charleston City Paper, June 2022
Charleston Climate Coalition: An Introduction – Surge Magazine, March 2022
Contact
Dr. Jen Wright, Co-director and Co-founder
Website
Social Media
Climate Impacts
Air Pollution, Drought, Erosion-Subsidence, Flooding, Heat, Hurricanes/Tropical Storms, Sea Level Rise, Water Contamination, Wildfires
Environmental Justice Concerns
Air Pollution, Hazardous/Toxic Sites
Strategies
Affordable Housing, Art Activism, Direct Relief and Aid, Nature-Based Solutions, Policy Reform, Renewable Energy
501c3 Tax Deductible
Yes
Accepting Donations
Yes