Climate Change

Global
warming refers
to the increase
in the earths
mean
temperature due
to the so-called
enhanced
greenhouse
effect.
 Climate Change vs Global
Warming
Global warmingis the term used to describe the
current increase in the Earth's average temperature.

Climate changerefers not only toglobal

changesin temperature but also tochangesin
wind, precipitation, the length of seasons as well as
the strength and frequency of extreme weather
events like droughts and floods.
 Causes
3 major pieces of the climate puzzle:

1. How much of the suns energy is hitting the

planet

2. How much is reflected back out into the space

3. How much is being trapped heating the planet

 Findings

Solar energy fluctuates due to a ten to twelve

year cycle

Solar energy has only slight impact on planets

temperature

Since 1750, the average amount of energy

coming from the sun either remained constant or
increased slightly.
 Reflective Planet
All other things being equal, a brighter, more
reflective planet bounces more energy back to
space. Some of the brightest, most reflective areas
of our planet are those covered with ice.

As sea ice vanishes into darker ocean, our planet

becomes less reflective and warms even further.

Clouds also reflect a lot of sunlight. As our planet

warms, more water evaporates, potentially creating
more clouds. More cloud cover increases the Earth's
brightness, possibly helping to cool the planet.
 Greenhouse Gases Greenhouse Effect

CO2 Carbon dioxide

Methane
CH4

Atmosphere N2O Nitrous oxide

water vapor

These and other gases keep the Earths surface about 60F (33 C) warmer
than it otherwise would be. Without this natural greenhouse or blanket effect,
life as we know it would not be possible
 Natural and Man-made Sources of
Greenhouse Gases
Carbon dioxide
Human-induced
Natural sources Burning of fossil
Soils (biological
fuels
processes) Transport
Ocean
Industries
Land-use
changes

Nitrous oxides
Natural sources Human-induced
Tropical soils (wet Nitrogen-based
forests) fertilizers and
Ocean chemicals
Industrial sources
Natural and Man-made Sources of
Greenhouse Gases

Methane Human-induced
Natural Flooded rice
sources agriculture
Wetlands Livestock
Termites production
Ocean Waste management
system (landfills,
etc.)

Hydrofluorocarbons Human-induced
Natural sources
Coolants
none
Sealants
insulations
 Greenhouse Gases
Water vapor

It is the world's most abundant greenhouse gas

Water vapors help create a blanket around the Earth, catching

heat radiating from the planet's surface and trapping it
within the atmosphere.

As the planet warms, more water evaporates from the ocean,

creating more of this heat-trapping greenhouse gas.
 Carbon dioxide

It is the second most prevalent greenhouse gas, and it's our

biggest contribution to global warming.

Fossil fuel burning releases large amounts of carbon dioxide

into the air.

Methane

Methaneis always found wherever there arefossil fuels. It is

released wheneverfossil fuelsare extracted from the earth
whether it is natural gas(which is mostly methane
anyway),coaloroil.

It can come from farm animals or landfills.

 Nitrous oxides

Primary human-related sources of N2O are

agricultural soil management, animal manure
management, sewage treatment, mobile and
stationary combustion of fossil fuel, adipic acid
production, and nitric acid production. Nitrous
oxide is also produced naturally from a wide
variety of biological sources in soil and water,
particularly microbial action in wet tropical
forests.
Effects of Global
Warming
1. Ice is melting worldwide

Mountain of Glacier

Ice Sheets
2. Decline of the Adlie penguins on
Antarctica(their numbers have fallen from
32,000 breeding pairs to 11,000 in 30 years)
 3. Sea level rise became faster over the last
century

Tide-gauge records dating back 100 years indicate a rise in

global mean sea level that amounts to one to two inches
every 25 years and is increasing. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) now predicts a global sea-level rise
of about 10 to 15 inches by the year 2025 and an additional
20 inches to more than six feet by 2100.

What makes the current sea-level rise so much more

threatening than earlier ones is the worldwide proliferation
of humans and their preferences for living in and developing
coastal areas. Nearly 75 percent of Americans, for example,
live on or within 50 miles of the coast.

http://www.oregon.gov/DSL/SSNERR/docs/EFS/EFS39risesea.pdf?ga
=t
4. Hurricanes and other storms are likely to
become stronger (more severe).
How do hurricanes form?

Tropical cyclones are like giant

engines that use warm, moist air
as fuel. That is why they form only
over warm ocean waters near
the equator. The warm, moist air
over the ocean rises upward from
near the surface.

Tropical cyclones usually weaken

when they hit land, because they
are no longer being "fed" by the
energy from the warm ocean
waters.
 5. Heavy Flooding and Global Warming: Is
There a Connection?

Warmer air holds more moisture.

When warm air holding moisture meets cooler air,

the moisture condenses into tiny droplets that
float in the air. If the drops get bigger and become
heavy enough, they fall as precipitation.
 6. Global Warming Increases Malaria,
Dengue Fever Threat.
Vectorborne Diseases:

Vector-borne diseases (VBD) are infections

transmitted by the bite of infected arthropod
species, such as mosquitoes, ticks,
triatomine bugs, sandflies and blackflies.

Mosquitoes, which can carry many diseases, are very sensitive to

temperature changes. Warming of their environment within their viable
range boosts their rates of reproduction and the number of blood
meals they take, prolongs their breeding season, and shortens the
maturation period for the microbes they disperse. Mosquitoes and the
diseases they carryincluding malaria, dengue fever, Ross River virus,
and West Nile virusare especially sensitive to temperature changes and
land elevation.

Rates of insect biting and the maturation of microorganisms within them

are temperature-dependent, and both rates increase when the air warms,
enhancing the chances for disease transmission.
 Health
Increased incidence of pulmonary illnesses
among young children and cardiovascular
diseases among the elderly

Increased health risk from poor air quality

especially in urbanized areas

Malnutrition
 Water Resources
In areas/regions where rainfall is projected to decrease,
there will be water stress (both in quantity and quality),
which in turn, will most likely cascade into more adverse
impacts, particularly on forestry, agriculture and livelihood,
health, and human settlement.

Large decreases in rainfall and longer drier periods will

affect the amount of water in watersheds and dams which
provide irrigation services to farmers, especially those in
rain fed areas, thereby, limiting agricultural production.

Likewise, energy production from dams could also be

rendered insufficient in those areas where rainfall is
projected to decrease, and thus, could largely affect the
energy sufficiency program of the country.
 In areas where rainfall could be intense during
wet periods, flooding events would follow and
may pose danger to human settlements and
infrastructure, in terms of landslides and
mudslides, most especially, in geologically weak
areas.

Additionally, these flooding events could impact

severely on public infrastructure, such as roads
and bridges, including classrooms, evacuation
centers, and hospitals.
 Agriculture
Decrease in yields

Incidence/outbreaks of pests and diseases, both

in plants and animals.

Decreased yields and inadequate job

opportunities in the agricultural sector could lead
to migration and shifts in population
 Poverty

Food security will largely be affected

Insufficient food supply could further

lead to more malnutrition, higher
poverty levels, and possibly,
heightened social unrest
Currently over 1 billion people two thirds of them
women live in extreme poverty on less than US$1
a day. This figure rises to 2.8 billion if a standard of
US$2 a day is used (OECD 2001)
According to the World Bank:

Agriculture is one of the most important economic

sectors in many poor countries.

Unfortunately, it is also one of the most sensitive to

climate change given its dependence on weather
conditions, both directly and through climate-
dependent stressors (pests, epidemics, and sea
level rise).
It predicts the number of impoverished people will
grow from the current 702 million to around 900
million by 2030 without factoring in climate
change.

When climate change is part of the equation, more

than a billion people will be in poverty. Most of that
additional 100 million will become poor due to
rising food prices.
Climate change is a very emotional subject for the
Philippines because the issue is viewed not only as
causing additional economic burdens, but as a
critical factor that would determine its survival as a
nation. Many of its people are in coastal areas and
at risk from the impacts of extreme climatic events,
sea level rise and degradation of marine
ecosystems.

The effects of climate change on agriculture,

forestry and water resources will further encumber
a country already reeling from a host of socio-
economic and environmental problems. (Philippines
1999)
 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9729

AN ACT MAINSTREAMING CLIMATE CHANGE INTO

GOVERNMENT POLICY FORMULATIONS,
ESTABLISHING THE FRAMEWORK STRATEGY AND
PROGRAM ON CLIMATE CHANGE, CREATING FOR
THIS PURPOSE THE CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy.

It is the policy of the State to afford full protection

and the advancement of the right of the people to a
healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm
and harmony of nature.

In this light, the State has adopted the Philippine

Agenda 21 framework which espouses sustainable
development, to fulfill human needs while
maintaining the quality of the natural
environment for current and future
generations.
SECTION 4. Creation of the Climate Change
Commission.

The Commission shall be the sole policy-making

body of the government which shall be tasked to
coordinate, monitor and evaluate the programs and
action plans of the government relating to climate
change pursuant to the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 13. National Climate Change Action

Plan.

The Commission shall formulate a National Climate

Change Action Plan
SECTION 14. Local Climate Change Action Plan.

The LGUs shall be the frontline agencies in the formulation,

planning and implementation of climate change action plans in
their respective areas, consistent with the provisions of the Local
Government Code, the Framework, and the National Climate
Change Action Plan.

Barangays shall be directly involved with municipal and city

governments in prioritizing climate change issues and in
identifying and implementing best practices and other solutions.

Municipal and city governments shall consider climate change

adaptation, as one of their regular functions.

Provincial governments shall provide technical assistance,

enforcement and information management in support of
municipal and city climate change action plans. Inter-local
government unit collaboration shall be maximized in the
conduct of climate-related activities.
LGUs shall regularly update their respective action plans
to reflect changing social, economic, and environmental
conditions and emerging issues.

SECTION 18. Funding Allocation for Climate Change.

All relevant government agencies and LGUs shall allocate

from their annual appropriations adequate funds for the
formulation, development and implementation, including
training, capacity building and direct intervention, of their
respective climate change programs and plans.

It shall also include public awareness campaigns on the

effects of climate change and energy-saving solutions to
mitigate these effects, and initiatives, through educational
and training programs and micro-credit schemes,
especially for women in rural areas.