Gen-Ed-008-STS_Lesson-10_A-Forum-on-Environment-and-Climate-Change_Dr.-Zenaida-L.-Andrade.pdf

Notes

1. Catalyzing Conversations:
A FORUM ON ENVIRONMENT
AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
September 21,2023
Graduate School Function Hall
01:00- 04:00 PM
In celebration of the National Science Month 2023
Theme: Global Science for Global Wellbeing

2. What is Climate Change?
“A change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly
to human activity that alters the composition of the global
atmosphere which is in addition to natural climate variability
observed over a comparable period of time.”(United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
“Any change in climate over time, whether due to natural
variability or as a result of human activity.” (Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

3. Climate and Weather
Is there any difference?

4. Climate Weather
Long-term average weather
pattern in one place.
Influenced by slow changes in
the ocean, the land, the orbit
of the Earth about the sun, and
the energy output of the sun
Fundamentally controlled by
the balance of energy of the
Earth and its atmosphere
Conditions at one particular time
and place, including temperature
and rainfall
Can change very rapidly from day
to day, and from year to year.
Changes involve shifts in
temperatures, solar radiation
precipitation, winds, clouds,
pressure, evaporation
(Climatology- the scientific study of climate)
(Meteorology- the scientific study of the atmosphere
that focuses on weather processes and forecasting)

5. What is the climate system?
The Earth’s climate system is created by complex interactions between the Sun, our atmosphere, oceans, land, ice
and biosphere which in turn are affected by an area’s latitude, elevation, terrain, and distance from coasts,
mountains and lakes.
IPCC-AR4

7. Most greenhouses look like a small glass house. Greenhouses are used to grow plants,
especially in the winter. Greenhouses work by trapping heat from the sun. The glass panels of
the greenhouse let in light but keep heat from escaping. This causes the greenhouse
to heat up, much like the inside of a car parked in sunlight and keeps the plants warm
enough to live in the cool seasons.
How does the greenhouse effect work?

8. www.eere.energy.gov
Greenhouse effect refers to the rise in global temperature due to the
process by which the gases in the atmosphere trap the heat coming from the
sun that is re-radiated by the earth’s surface and re-emit it downwards.
Because of how they warm our world, these gases are referred to as
greenhouse gases.

10. The GHGs are produced by natural processes such as:
water cycle
growth and death of plants and animals
decaying of wood and other biodegradable materials
volcanic activities

11. These are the naturally occurring gases that keep the Earth comfortably
warm enough for plants and animals to live at an average temperature of
15
o
C. They act as a natural blanket around the earth, trapping heat much
like a glass roof of a greenhouse.
Importance of greenhouse gases

12. Without the greenhouse effect, the Earth’s average surface
temperature would be some 30°C colder or approximately -15°C and
possibly not warm enough to sustain life.

14. Unfortunately, humans are affecting atmospheric
greenhouse gas concentrations by introducing new sources or by
interfering with natural processes that destroy or remove GHGs.

15. By burning fossil fuels due to industrialization and to sustain our
modern lifestyle, the level of GHGs increase rapidly. The higher the
concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the stronger
the greenhouse effect making it into enhanced greenhouse effect.
How do greenhouse gases influence climate change?

17. This is what is causing climate change. Climate change,
therefore, is caused by both natural events and human
(anthropogenic) activities. Scientists now agree that most of the
global warming today has been caused by human activities.

18. The Anthropogenic Sources of GHGs
Basically, there are three main human sources of GHGs:
energy generation and industrial processes
transportation and
land-use, agriculture and forestry.

19. The Anthropogenic Sources of GHGs
Carbon dioxide
Sources of extra CO
2
in the atmosphere

20. A. Burning of fossil fuel
(coal, oil, and natural gas,)

21. B. Burning down of tropical forest

22. C. Every kw-hour electricity generated using fossil
fuel– releases 1 kg CO
2

23. D. Each liter of gasoline burned—
releases 2.5 kg CO
2

24. Sources of Methane
1 molecule CH
4 = 25 molecules of CO
2 in its warming effect
Methane

25. Animal wastes
Rotten rice paddies
Decomposition of garbage
from an open dumpsite
/landfill
Sewage treatment facilities

26. Sources of Nitrous Oxide N
2
O
N
2O responsible for 20% of the enhanced
greenhouse effect produced from intensive
agriculture including
•cultivated soils
•nitrogen fertilizer
•pesticide use,
•biomass burning,
•combustion processes in vehicles,
•acid production processes.

27. There are other three (3) man-made GHGs that
were initially intended to replace
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to prevent further
depletion of the ozone layer. However, they were
found to be harmful greenhouse gases.

•Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

•Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
• Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).

HFCs and PFCs are long-lived and potent and are
used as refrigerants, coolants, foam-blowing
agents, and solvents.
SF6 is also long-lived and are used in electric
insulators, heat conductors, and freezing agents.
Sources of the 3 other gases

28. GHG Lifetime GWP
(CO
2-e)
% Total world
emissions
Carbon Dioxide (CO
2) 5-200 years 1 77%
Methane (CH
4) 12 years 21 14%
Nitrous Oxide (N
2O) 114 years 310 8%
Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF
6) 3,200 years 23,900 <1%
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) 140 to 11,700 <1%
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) 6,500 to 9,200 <1%
Carbon Tetrafluoride (CF
4) 50,000 years
Global Warming PotentialGWP)
Heat-trapping ability of a GHG relative to that of carbon dioxide, it describes
the degree of harm to the atmosphere of a unit of a given GHG to an
equivalent unit of CO
2 over a given period of time.
Measured in metric tons of CO
2 equivalent (CO
2-e)
1 metric ton = 1.1 short ton

29. Increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases
(GHGs) in the atmosphere as a result of
human activities
[Enhanced greenhouse effect]
Increase in global surface
temperature
Climate Change
Sea Level Rise
Extreme changes in weather patterns

30. Effects of Increase in temperature
Increase in minimum (nighttime)
temperatures, maximum (daytime)
temperatures, and increases in the
global mean temperature.
Increase in sea surface temperatures,
sea level and changes in evaporation,
and thus, changes in rainfall patterns
among others.
Extreme changes in weather patterns

31. Water Resources
Climate Change and Environmental Impacts
Changes in temperature, weather patterns and sea level rise
Agriculture
Forests/
Biodiversity
Coastal Areas Human Health
Industry and
Energy

32. Impacts of Climate Change
Coastal and marine ecosystem
Climate change will alter ocean circulation and
wave patterns, affecting biological productivity,
nutrient availability and marine ecological
structure and functions.
Sea level rise will greatly affect coastal areas
through inundation and erosion, increased
flooding, and salt-water intrusion, and may
even cause extreme events like high tides,
storm surges and tsunamis, thereby affecting
coastal agriculture, tourism, freshwater
resources, fisheries and aquaculture, human
settlements and health.

33. Impacts of Climate Change
Coastal and marine ecosystem
Corals are known as the tropical forests of the oceans and sustain diverse
life forms. As ocean waters in the tropics become warmer, corals reefs will
be damaged since corals are very sensitive to changes in water
temperature, which causes coral bleaching.
Bleaching of the coral reefs is associated with the loss of symbiotic algae
and/or their pigments, and the death of the corals if the warming of the
sea surface temperatures are prolonged.
Hea lthy cora ls
Healthy

34. Impacts of Climate Change
Coastal and marine ecosystem
Zooplanktons, small organisms that float in the sea surface are declining in
numbers, reducing the number of fish and sea birds that feed on these
organisms.

35. Shrinking Sea Ice
Impacts of Climate Change
Coastal and marine ecosystem

36. Impacts of Climate Change
Coastal and marine ecosystem
Acidification – a reduction of pH of seawater as a consequence of the
absorption of the large amount of carbon dioxide ( CO2) by the oceans. Ocean
absorbs 25% of the extra CO2 due to anthropogenic emissions by burning of
fossil fuel. With the additional CO2 transferred to the oceans, the pH would
decline.
Increases in ocean acidity reduce the concentration of carbonate ions and the
availability of aragonite (a source of calcium carbonate )in sea water.
Coral, shellfish and other marine calcifiers (organisms that use carbonates) will
be less able to obtain the raw materials that they use to build and maintain
their skeletons and shells according to the marine scientist .

37. Coastal and marine ecosystem
Sea level rise – drowning of the wetlands ( Mangrove ecosystem the nursery ground
for marine life , sea grass meadows and coral reefs) they can only photosynthesize in
relatively shallow water enough that the sunlight could still penetrate.
Mangrove forest, sea grass beds, coral reef are five times as effective as the forest at
sequestering carbon.
Impacts of Climate Change
zooxanthellae - single celled, photosynthetic
algae) that live within the coral polyp

38. Impacts of Climate Change
Water Resources
Climate change will influence the hydrological cycle, changing
evaporation, precipitation, and runoff patterns which could
affect water resources.
Sea level rise will increase saline intrusion of surface water
and groundwater resources will reduce quality and quantity of
freshwater supplies.
Rising temperatures will lead to longer drought periods and
water scarcity
Impact on power generation
For extreme weather events - more intense rainfall in the
northern parts of the country; less rainfall/drought and water
scarcities in provinces along and below the equator.

39. Impacts of Climate Change
Agriculture and food security
Added heat stress, shifting monsoons, drier soils and water
shortages as a result of higher temperatures will affect livestock
and crop production patterns with expanded range of weeds,
insects and diseases which may reduce global food supplies and
contribute to higher food prices.

40. Impacts of Climate Change
Agriculture and food security
Rice production will largely be
affected because of changes in
temperature and rainfall. For every
1°C increase in temperature, rice
yields will decrease by 10%-15%
(IRRI)
As the daily minimum temperature
increases (nighttime), rice yields
drop.
Water for agriculture is critical for
food security. Agriculture is by far the
biggest consumer of water worldwide.
To raise a ton of rice, a thousand
gallons of water. (IRRI)

41. Impacts of Climate Change
Agriculture and food security
Competition for water will increase the pressure on riceland and favor
adoption of cropping systems or practices that will consume less
irrigation water
Changes in soil quality, occurrence of weed infestation and diseases

42. Impacts of Climate Change
Health
Increase in health problems and deaths due to greater frequency
and severity of heat waves and other extreme weather events
Will largely affect those suffering from respiratory and
cardiovascular disorders as they have lesser coping capacity

43. Impacts of Climate Change
Health
Potential impacts on health due to sea level rise
Death and injury due to flooding
Reduced availability of freshwater due to saltwater
intrusion
Source:newyorktimes

44. Impacts of Climate Change
Health
Contamination of water supply through pollutants from
submerged waste dumps
Change in the distribution of disease-spreading insects
Effect on nutrition due to a loss in agricultural land and
changes in fish catch
Health impacts associated with population displacement
Occurrence of infectious diseases

45. Impacts of Climate Change
Biodiversity (including Forests and Wildlife)

Ecosystems sustain the earth’s entire storehouse of species and genetic diversity. Plants
and animals are very sensitive to changes in climate hence, the most affected are those
ecosystems in the higher latitudes, the tundra forests. Polar regions will feel the impact
of warming more than others.

46. Impacts of Climate Change
Biodiversity (Including Forests and Wildlife)

▪Shift poleward and up in elevation for plants, insects, birds and fish
▪Longer growing season at higher latitudes
▪Earlier plant flowering, bird arrival, dates of breeding season and emergence of insect in the
Northern Hemisphere
▪Shift in feeding point and disruption in flight patterns for migratory birds.
▪Extinction of some mountain plants and animals

47. Impacts of Climate Change
Biodiversity (Including Forests and Wildlife)
Increased outbreaks of pests and diseases
Increased risk of forest fires
Change in species distribution, composition and
abundance
Invasion of weeds and alien species
Displacement of native plant/forest species
Loss of plant and animal species
Migration of plant and animal species
Loss of wetlands

48. Philippine
Vulnerabilities to
Climate Change
According to the United Nations,
VULNERABILITY TO CLIMATE CHANGE will
be GREATER IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES,
which are located in WARMER LATITUDES,
like the PHILIPPINES.

49. PHILIPPINE VULNERABILITIES TO
GLOBAL WARMING/ CLIMATE CHANGE
HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO TYPHOONS –
LOCATED WITHIN PACIFIC TYPHOON BELT AREA

50. MOUNTAINOUS WITH STEEP SLOPES
HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO LANDSLIDES, MUDSLIDES, ETC.

51. HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLOODINGS AND INUNDATIONS
Archipelago, composed of low -lying small islands
70% of cities and municipalities are coastal
areas
Highly susceptible to flooding and storm surges
Archipelago, composed of low lying small islands
70% of cities and municipalities are coastal
areas
Highly susceptible to flooding and storm surges

52. Low Agricultural Productivity
Rice production in the Philippines will decline by as much as 75% if the
country is not quick enough to adapt to and put in place safeguards against
climate change. Such decline will start in 2020.

53. HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO LOSS OF BIOLOGICAL
RESOURCES
ACCORDING TO UN, 20%-30% OF PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES MAY
BECOME EXTINCT AS A RESULT OF CLIMATE CHANGE

54. Water-borne and parasitic illnesses will
become prevalent with climate change.
HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO ILLNESSES
PHILIPPINES AS A TROPICAL COUNTRY

55. What can we do?
Limit the cause of climate change through
measures that could slow down the build up of
atmospheric GHGs concentrations by reducing
current and future emissions and by increasing
GHG sinks (Mitigation)
Adjustment in natural orhuman systemsin
response to actual or expected climatic stimuli
or their effects, which moderates harm or
exploits beneficial opportunities (Adaptation)
Increase the resilience and coping capacity of
the sector with the current and future changes

56. Water Sector
Expanded rainwater harvesting
water storage and conservation techniques
water re-use desalination;
Water useand irrigation efficiency
Wastewater treatment

57. •Maintaining and restoring native ecosystems
•Protecting and enhancing ecosystem services
•Managing habitats for endangered species
•Creating refuges and buffer zones
•Establishing networks of terrestrial, freshwater and marine
protected areas that take into account projected changes in
climate.
Source: UNEP, Convention on Biological Diversity. Biodiversity and Climate Change
Biodiversity/Forestry Sector

58. Energy
Strengthening of overhead transmission and
distribution infrastructure
energy efficiency;
use of renewable sources;
reduced dependence on single sources of energy

59. Agriculture
Adjustment of planting dates and crop
variety;
crop relocation;
improved land management, e.g. erosion
control and soil protection through tree
planting

60. Coastal Areas
Relocate residents living along low
lying areas
Set up marine reserve networks to
replenish coral/fish larvae
Mangrove reforestation to serve as a
buffer for strong waves and storm
surge

61. Health Sector
Sanitary practices
Preventive care(e.g., vaccines)
Information and awareness
Health surveillance and monitoring

62. Disaster Risk Reduction

63. Panic room added in a house in
Provident Village, Marikina after Ondoy

64. Awareness and Information Dissemination as
Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change
✓Promote awareness on climate change in your
office, school, community, or in your home
✓Update yourself on the latest information on
climate change
✓Be prepared for disasters

65. 19.05.2024
Climate Check for Local Platforms 18-19
August, Legazpi, Albay
Source: GIZ

66. Project NOAH, DOST
(Nationwide Operation Assessments of
Hazards)

67. We can make a difference . . .
Read and share what we have learned about climate change
Save electricity
turn off lights and electric appliance when not in use
use more energy efficient electric appliances
use compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) that last 4 times
longer and use just 1/4 of the electricity compared to
incandescent bulbs
Plant trees in your neighborhood and look after them. Trees
absorb carbon dioxide from the air.

68. We can make a difference. . .
Take the bus, ride a bike or walk; maximize the use
of public transport systems.
Recycle cans, bottles, plastic bags and newspapers.
When you recycle, you help save natural resources.
Generate as little trash as possible, because trash in
landfill sites emit large quantities of methane, and if
burned, carbon dioxide is released.
Reduce on the use of non-renewable sources of
energy and increase in the use of renewable energy
sources such as solar, hydro, and wind energy.

69. We can make a difference. . .
Review on your institution’s current policies and programs
that may work as either mitigation or adaptation strategies
and measures in addressing climate change
Encourage cooperation and partnerships among other
institutions in programs and activities that would help fight
global warming.
Strengthen environmental awareness and action among your
colleagues by initiating innovative and creative information
and education campaigns.
Consume less, share more, live simply.

70. Significant Milestones in the Philippines’ Response to
Address Climate Change
➢Created the Inter-Agency Committee on Climate Change (IACCC) in May 1991 to serve
as the national coordination mechanism and administrative machinery to implement
the country’s commitments to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC)
➢Signed the UNFCCC on June 1992 and ratified it on August 2, 1994
➢Signed the Kyoto Protocol on April 15, 1998 and ratified it on November 20, 2003
➢Designated the DENR as the National Authority for CDM on June 25, 2004 by virtue
of Executive Order No. 320
➢Issued DENR Adm. Order 2005-17 on August 2005 on the IRR Governing E.O. 320

71. Significant Milestones in the Philippines’ Response to
Address Climate Change
➢Republic Act No. 9729: Climate Change Act of 2009 (Signed 23 October 2010)
➢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 (CCC), and for Other Purposes
➢CCC - sole policy-making body of the government tasked to coordinate, monitor and
evaluate CC programs and action plans attached to the Office of the President
➢The National Framework Strategy on Climate Change – 2010-2022
➢The Philippine Strategy on Climate Change Adaptation – 2010-2022
➢The National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) – 2011-2028

72. TO LOCALIZE SCIENCE-BASED CLIMATE ACTION
The Climate Change Commission (CCC) welcomed the new set of its National Panel of Technical Experts (NPTE) in a
press conference last October 13,2021,
1. Sea Level Rise
2. Coastal Erosion
3. Flooding
4. Increase in Frequency and Severity of
Tropical Cyclones
5. Extreme Drought
6. Temperature increase;
rising urban heat index
7. Extreme Rainfall
8. Climate and Health
9. Wind Pattern
10. Biodiversity Loss..
With policy briefs-highlighted

73. On going Policy Forum ----Drafting of Policy paper

74. “Climate change will not be effectively managed
until individuals and communities recognize
that their behavior can make a difference.”
-The Royal Society, Climate Change:
-what we know and what we need to know. (2002)

75. Thank you
and God bless
Acknowledgement:
Climate Change Office (CCO)
DNA - CDM Secretariat Office
Environmental Management Bureau
DENR Compound, Visayas Avenue,
Diliman, Quezon City