One mature tree canopy can remove the equivalent of 11,000 miles of car emissions each year.
Properly placed trees can reduce summer temperatures by as much as 10 degrees.
And the typical medium-size tree can intercept as much as 2,380 gallons of rainfall per year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Each year, climate change is impacting our lives in South Carolina. Temperatures continue to rise, and flooding is a problem in many areas of the state.
The Upstate recently experienced heavy rain and flooding that required rescues and several street closures.
It appears that most state and local leaders have buried their heads in the sand regarding these issues that impact the quality of life for residents from Charleston to Greenville.
Just look around at the rapid growth and development that has led to the destruction of forests and trees.
In Greenville, it is troubling to see clear-cutting in areas where trees are replaced with apartment complexes, housing developments and asphalt.
Growth is certainly necessary, but we need responsible growth where we leave some trees, build fewer apartments, pave less and honor nature.
Unfortunately, I think the dollars these developers provide, combined with short-sighted leadership, will continue to spell climate disaster for this beautiful state.
I suggest that residents enjoy the trees, birds, flowers and insects while they can because it may be soon all be paved over.
KAREN KENNEDY
Greenville
Stokes-Marshall
Thomasena Stokes-Marshall, a former Mount Pleasant councilwoman who died Saturday, was a major force in accomplishing worthy goals in and around the town.
This was not because of loud and boisterous attacks on those who disagreed with her, but rather because of her persuasive, patient and never-ending dedication to respectful dialogue with those people.
If more politicians and advocates would honor her memory by following her example, we would get more accomplished and be less divided.
DOUG BRAFFORD
Mount Pleasant
Tales of woe
The lives of our parents and grandparents anchored in hard work and service set the bar for many of us.
Hard work gives people a sense of pride and accomplishment. A strong and willing workforce is vital for any economy to work.
When I observe many young adults, something far different stands out.
It seems that many of those between the ages of 20 and 40 seem plagued with a short attention span, the need for instant gratification and a general inability to overcome obstacles that occur along the way.
Many see nothing wrong with spending the majority of their waking hours captivated by a cellphone.
Instead of engaging with life by living it, moving forward, making themselves useful and staking their claim, many remain absorbed in social media platforms designed to influence what they think, what they wear, how they act and who they mimic.
Some are so self-involved that any conversation is all about them.
Rather than getting out of their own way and putting their nose to the grindstone, they seem intent on talking about their wounded souls and the unfairness of life, something they imagine we know nothing about.
I just can’t imagine my parents or grandparents wasting their waking hours with their tales of woe.
BEVERLY WATROUS
Myrtle Beach
Flag flap a laugh
What a laugh I had last week.
In a Jan. 4 Post and Courier article on having a standardized version of our state flag, which I believe is an entirely laudable effort by our state government, it had the subhead, “Some see bill as waste of time.”
What? A waste of time? In the General Assembly? Say it isn’t so.
In a legislative body that wants to pass a state law to outlaw “squatting” trucks, this is a waste of time? I can’t believe it.
GLORIA B. JENKINS
James Island
