The Honorable Henry McMaster April 15, 2020

State House
1100 Gervais Street
Columbia, SC 29201

Dear Governor McMaster,

I am writing to express my concerns about the impending threat climate change poses to our state, to
our country, and to our planet. I understand that focusing on climate change is one of the many and
equally important issues (especially during these challenging and novel times). However, we cannot
afford to wait anymore to take strong action – delaying only compounds the costly and adverse
impacts of climate change.

Climate change has taken a dangerous turn in the 21st century. It is no longer a distant threat – no
longer a hoax or prediction. It’s here and it’s a reality that everyone lives with – every day and
everywhere. Aside from disrupting the environment, climate change presents a rapidly growing threat
to human health. According to the Fourth National Climate Change Assessment from 2018, the
health effects of climate change include heat-related illnesses, respiratory conditions, spread of
disease-carrying insects, water and food contamination, and extreme weather events. These effects
reveal that climate change is not only an environmental crisis – it’s a public health crisis.

The scope, complexity, and timeline of climate change are unprecedented and uncertain, so we must
coordinate a public-health-oriented approach to address its health impacts - now. I strongly believe
that an approach focused on prevention and preparedness would be beneficial in halting or at least
mitigating the causes of climate change. Prevention is a fundamental guiding principle and aim in
public health. Just like preventative care can occur at just a fraction of the cost it would take to treat
most medical conditions, preventative actions (such as early warning systems for heatwaves, sea
defence systems, cleaner energy sources, etc) would occur at a fraction of the cost it would take to
deal with the health after-effects of climate change. Preparedness also plays a part in a potential
approach. Policymakers should invest more in climate-health preparedness policies that especially
address the vulnerability of certain populations (the elderly, children, low-income, communities of
color, developing communities) and their ability to adapt to the health risks. I am aware that these
efforts of prevention and preparedness will be costly, but the costs of neglecting action are far more
significant. We cannot underestimate climate change simply because climate action may come at a
cost– climate change itself comes with a hefty price tag in terms of monetary value and invaluable
human lives.

I am contacting you because, as the notable governor of our beloved South Carolina, you have the
power, the voice, and the responsibility to do something about climate change. Just like the other
countless brave and passionate climate activists, I am and will be an ardent advocate for climate
action and you should be too. That being said, we need to ask ourselves: why and how should we
tackle climate change for the sake of humankind?

Sincerely,
Heny Patel
Student at UofSC
henypatela@gmail.com
803-543-8261