Interview: John Tynan Discusses CVSC’s New 10-Year Strategic Plan
South Carolina is changing fast, and so are the challenges facing our environment. In response, CVSC has launched a bold 10-year strategic plan designed to meet these issues head-on. The plan focuses on electing conservation-minded leaders, protecting the spaces that sustain us, advancing clean energy, safeguarding water, and ensuring every South Carolinian has a voice in environmental decision-making.
At the heart of this strategy is a massive investment in recruiting, developing, and supporting leaders who will shape South Carolina’s future. Rather than waiting for change, we’re building it by ensuring the people making key decisions are committed to protecting our environment, health, and communities.
We recently delved into the details with CVSC President John Tynan to discuss the vision behind this plan, the role of political action in driving lasting change, and how our fellow South Carolinians can get involved in shaping a thriving future.
Q: Hey John! CVSC’s new strategic plan spans the next 10 years. What inspired this more long-term approach, and why now?
A: South Carolina is at a crossroads. We’re one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, which brings opportunity, but also enormous environmental threats. Sprawling development, rising energy costs, and polluted water systems are making it harder for families to thrive while putting our natural resources at risk. At CVSC, we’ve always focused on turning environmental priorities into political action. However, the challenges we face require more than short-term wins; they demand a decade of sustained leadership. This 10-year strategic plan is about building long-term power and durable solutions that protect South Carolina’s air, land, and water, regardless of who holds office in the years ahead. It’s about setting bold goals, steadily building support, electing leaders who will champion them, and growing public and political backing for strong environmental policies.
Q: With two Senate elections and four House elections taking place over the next 10 years, it makes sense to have a more comprehensive roadmap for success. What would that success look like in 2034 if this plan is fully realized?
A: There are tangible successes and process successes. Tangibly, success means South Carolina will have protected 3 million additional acres of land and water, adopted policies to lead us to 100% clean energy and make energy more affordable for all South Carolinians, ensured clean drinking water for every South Carolinian, and ensured that people can participate in every step of environmental decision-making. From a process perspective, success means we’ve transformed how South Carolina approaches conservation. By 2034, we envision a state where environmental protection isn’t seen as a barrier to growth, but a part of the blueprint for a thriving economy and healthy communities. But perhaps most importantly, success looks like a political system where protecting our environment isn’t a partisan issue; it’s simply good leadership.
Q: This plan heavily emphasizes investing in people and leadership across South Carolina. Can you explain why that’s the foundation of CVSC’s work over the next decade?
A: People are the heart of every policy change. Over the next decade, we’re committed to building a deep bench of conservation leaders, not just at the Statehouse, but in local governments, on planning commissions, and in every community from the Lowcountry to the Upstate. That means training advocates, supporting candidates for both elected and appointed offices, and helping citizens navigate public processes that too often feel inaccessible. We’re creating pathways for more South Carolinians to shape decisions about land use, clean energy, and public health because a thriving environment depends on people being able to access the decision-making process at every level of government and in every branch of government.
Q: You’ve said before that political action is our most powerful tool. Can you explain what that looks like in practice?
A: Absolutely. Every decision about our environment, whether it’s about clean energy, land protection, or water quality, happens in a political arena. Laws are passed, budgets are set, and priorities are chosen by elected officials. If we’re not engaged in that process, we’re leaving South Carolina’s future up to chance. And that’s why CVSC exists: to elect leaders who prioritize conservation, hold decision-makers accountable, and build bipartisan coalitions to make lasting progress. Our work isn’t just about fighting the newest threat to our air, land, or water; it’s about changing the political landscape so that protecting South Carolina’s environment becomes the expectation, not the exception.
Q: As you pointed out earlier, growth and development are major challenges in South Carolina. How will this plan address that?
A: We have a choice to make, and the biggest question is: will South Carolina grow in a way that preserves our natural resources and protects the places that sustain us? Or will we continue to sprawl, paving over farmland and vital natural spaces without a plan? Our strategy invests in advancing sustainable growth solutions that strike a balance between prosperity and preservation. Over the next decade, we’ll push for policies that help local governments plan better, provide incentives for sustainable development, and secure dedicated funding to protect critical lands. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get this right, and CVSC is committed to leading the way.
Q: This is an ambitious plan. What do we need to do to make it happen?
A: Simply put, we’re playing to win. We’re up against powerful, well-funded interests that benefit from the status quo, whether that’s polluting industries or developers lobbying for unchecked sprawl. If we want to change the game, we have to build the capacity to compete at every level. That means expanding our team, mobilizing advocates, running robust campaigns, and supporting leaders who are ready to take bold action. Every dollar we raise goes directly into making conservation a permanent, bipartisan value in South Carolina politics. This isn’t just about defending progress; it’s about driving it, and we need the resources to do so.
Q: What’s your message to someone reading this who wants to help secure South Carolina’s future?
A: My message is simple: get involved. Whether it’s through voting, volunteering, donating, organizing, or running for office, there’s a role for everyone in this movement. The next decade will define what kind of South Carolina we leave behind for our children, for our communities, and for the natural places that make this state so special. At CVSC, we’re ready to lead, but real change happens when we all step up together.
For a deeper dive into CVSC’s vision for the next decade, you can view the full strategic plan here. For more information and details on how you can get involved, reach out to John Tynan at [email protected].