Preview: Inside Sustain SC’s 5th Annual Sustainability Symposium
Here’s what to expect on October 22 in Columbia
We all know South Carolina is growing. And at Sustain SC, we know the sustainability conversations shaping that growth are changing just as quickly.
On Thursday, October 22, Sustain SC’s 5th Annual Sustainability Symposium will bring together leaders from across the state at Central Energy in Columbia for a day focused on the issues, opportunities and emerging trends that matter most to South Carolina’s future. From the changing role of working lands and conservation to the rapid expansion of the data center industry, this year’s program will tackle timely topics with implications for businesses, communities, policymakers and natural resources across the state.
Just as importantly, Symposium creates something that can be difficult to find anywhere else: an opportunity for leaders from across sectors to be in the same room, learning from one another and building relationships that can move sustainability forward.
Whether you work in business and industry, conservation, government, economic development, academia, utilities, agriculture or another part of South Carolina’s sustainability landscape, Symposium is designed to connect you with relevant information, and with the people working on these issues alongside you.
A Full Day of Timely Conversations
The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with coffee, breakfast snacks and networking before programming officially kicks off with remarks from Sustain SC CEO Leslie Skardon.
From there, attendees will hear from leaders working at the intersection of commerce and conservation on some of the most important issues facing South Carolina today.
Conservation as an Economic Lever for South Carolina Communities
The first panel of the day will take a closer look at Florence County, where a collaborative conservation effort is demonstrating how protecting natural and cultural assets can also support long-term community and economic goals.
This panel will explore how the county’s conservation efforts gained momentum, the partnerships helping move the work forward and lessons that could inform similar efforts in communities across South Carolina.
The conversation will bring together Florence County Administrator Kevin Yokim, Harry Lesesne of the Darla Moore Foundation and Dan Rummel of ArborOne Farm Credit, moderated by Helen Rogers of Open Space Institute. The discussion will examine the roles local government, business, philanthropy, private landowners and other partners can play in developing conservation strategies that also respond to community needs.
The Economic and Conservation Power of South Carolina’s Working Lands
Agriculture and forestry have long been central to South Carolina’s economy, communities and identity. But changing markets, development pressures and other challenges are reshaping the future of these industries — and raising important questions about what is at stake when working lands disappear.
This year’s keynote speaker, Robert Bonnie, Founder of Sage Agronomics and former USDA Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment, will provide a national perspective on the challenges facing agriculture and forestry and opportunities to strengthen their long-term resilience.
His remarks will be followed by a fireside conversation with Dr. Matt Holt, Dean of Clemson University’s College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, moderated by Dr. Sole Peresin, Director of Clemson University’s Wood Utilization and Design Institute.
Together, they will explore why keeping farms and forests working is not only an economic issue, but also an important conservation and sustainability strategy. The conversation will look at rural livelihoods, development pressure, workforce and infrastructure, renewable materials, supply chains and the opportunities that can emerge when industry, conservation, government and community partners work together.
Managing the Load: Data Centers and South Carolina’s Natural Resources
Few issues have entered South Carolina’s growth conversation as quickly as data centers.
The afternoon panel, “Managing the Load: Balancing the Data Center Industry Expansion and Our Natural Resources in South Carolina,” will bring together perspectives from the data center industry, economic development, conservation and other sectors to examine one of the state’s most rapidly emerging sustainability issues.
Building on conversations Sustain SC convened earlier this year, the session will explore data center land use and approaches to site selection that can support economic growth while considering communities and the sustainable management of South Carolina’s natural resources.
Rather than approaching the issue from a single perspective, the discussion is designed to create greater shared understanding among stakeholders navigating the opportunities and challenges associated with the industry’s growth.
More Than an Agenda: A Place to Connect
The conversations on stage are only part of what makes Symposium valuable.
Each year, the event brings together a cross-section of South Carolina leaders who may approach sustainability from different perspectives but increasingly find themselves working on the same challenges.
Many of the issues shaping South Carolina’s future do not fit neatly within one industry, organization or area of expertise. Symposium creates space for people who might not otherwise cross paths to exchange perspectives, ask questions and build relationships that can continue long after the event ends.
For anyone looking to better understand what is emerging, what matters now and who is working on it, the Sustainability Symposium offers a unique opportunity to do all three in one place.
Join Us October 22
Sustain SC’s 5th Annual Sustainability Symposium will take place Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Central Energy, 2030 Gregg Street in Columbia. Tickets are open to the public and are on sale now.
Sustain SC members qualify for a discounted ticket rate. Members can contact Emily Skaggs at Emily@sustainsouthcarolina.org for the discount code.
Purchase tickets for the 5th Annual Sustainability Symposium
South Carolina’s sustainability landscape is evolving quickly. Join us on October 22 to hear the conversations shaping what comes next — and connect with the people helping shape it.
