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Climate Change

I. Climate Change
It is a change in the usual weather found in a place. This could be a change in how much
rain a place usually gets in a year. Or it could be a change in a place's usual temperature for a
month or season. It can be also defined as a change in Earth’s climate (www.nasa.gov, 2014).
A. Causes of Climate Change
1. Greenhouse gases
Certain gases in the atmosphere block the heat from escaping. Thus, producing
a phenomenon called greenhouse effect (climate.nasa.gov). Many of these gases
occur naturally, but human activity is increasing the concentrations of some of them
in the atmosphere. The main greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
oxide, and fluorinated gases (ec.europa.eu).
2. Human activities
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2014), there’s
more than 95% probability that the industrial activities of humans over the past 50
years have warmed our planet.
Since the Industrial Revolution began in 1750, human activities have
contributed tremendously to climate by adding carbon dioxide and other heat-
trapping gases to the atmosphere. These greenhouse gas emissions increased the
greenhouse effect and resulted in an increase in the temperature of the Earth’s
surface (Dela Cruz, A., Fadrigon, C., Mabaquiao Jr., N., 2017)
3. Solar irradiance
Changes in the sun's energy output would cause the climate to change since the
sun is the fundamental source of energy that drives our climate system.
B. Effects of Consumption Patterns to Climate Change
Household consumption forms an important part of the production-consumption
chain as it is consumers who make the final choice as to which goods and services to
buy. Even though the environmental pressures caused by each household are relatively
small compared to those caused by production activities, billions of households around
the world combined are a major contributor to environmental problems such as climate
change, air and water pollution, land use, and waste segregation.
In the last ten years, we have seen major developments that have changed how and
what we consume. One is economic growth, globalization and the opening of markets.
As we become wealthier, we consume more. Another development is that households
are getting smaller on average, and partly because of that we use more energy and water
and generate more waste per person.
The energy, materials, and resources we use have direct and indirect impacts on the
environment. Generally speaking, the indirect environmental effects of consumption
are higher than the direct ones. For example, when we prepare and eat food, the direct
environmental effects of the cooking process are considerably less than the combined
indirect effects of pollution and waste from the agricultural production, the industrial
processing of the food and its transportation (econation.co.nz).

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C. Effects of Climate Change

1. Temperatures will continue to rise
Because human-induced warming is superimposed on a naturally varying
climate, the temperature rise has not been, and will not be, uniform or smooth across
the country or over time. (climate.nasa.gov)
According to study on the Climate Change by DOST-PAGASA (2011), the
mean temperatures in all areas in the Philippines are expected to rise by 0.9 °C to
1.1 °C in 2020 and by 1.8 °C to 2.2 °C in 2050.
2. Changes in precipitation patterns
Through DOST-PAGASA’s study on 2011, they have projected that heavy
rainfall will continue to become more frequent in Luzon and Visayas only, but the
number of dry days is expected to increase in all parts of the country in 2020 and
2050.
3. More droughts and heat waves
As wet seasons become wetter in the country, dry seasons are also expected to
become drier leading to more occurrences of dry spells or droughts. There will be
more days which have a maximum temperature exceeding 35 °C in 2020 and 2050
(DOST-PAGASA, 2011).
4. Strength and intensity of typhoons and hurricanes will increase
The destructive power of the typhoons that wreak havoc across China, Japan,
Korea and the Philippines has intensified by 50% in the past 40 years due to
warming seas (theguardian.com).
On the other side of the globe, the intensity, frequency, and duration of North
Atlantic hurricanes, as well as the frequency of the strongest (Category 4 and 5)
hurricanes, have all increased since the early 1980s. The relative contributions of
human and natural causes to these increases are still uncertain. Hurricane-
associated storm intensity and rainfall rates are projected to increase as the climate
continues to warm (climate.nasa.gov).
5. Rise of sea level by one (1) to four (4) feet by 2100
Global sea level has risen by about 8 inches since reliable record keeping began
in 1880. It is projected to rise another 1 to 4 feet by 2100. This is the result of added
water from melting land ice and the expansion of seawater as it warms.
In the next several decades, storm surges and high tides could combine with sea
level rise and land subsidence to further increase flooding in many regions. Sea
level rise will continue past 2100 because the oceans take a very long time to
respond to warmer conditions at the Earth’s surface. Ocean waters will, therefore,
continue to warm and sea level will continue to rise for many centuries at rates
equal to or higher than those of the current century (climate.nasa.gov).
6. Ocean acidification
According to Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory of National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration of United States, the acidity of ocean waters has
risen by 30 percent since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Future
predictions indicate that the oceans will continue to absorb carbon dioxide and
become even more acidic.
Estimates of future carbon dioxide levels, based on business as usual emission
scenarios, indicate that by the end of this century the surface waters of the ocean
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could be nearly 150 percent more acidic, resulting in a pH that the oceans haven’t
experienced for more than 20 million years (pmel.noaa.gov).
D. Steps to Address the Problems of Climate Change
1. Mitigation and Adaptation Approaches
Mitigating climate change means reducing the impacts of climate change. To
do this, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2014)
requires the following: (1) prevention of hazardous human intervention with the
climate system; and (2) the stabilization of greenhouse gas levels based on a time
frame that would allow ecosystems to adapt to climate change. The stabilization of
the ecosystem will eventually lead to a sufficient food supply and sustainable
economic development
Adaptation – adapting to life in a changing climate – involves adjusting to actual
or expected future climate. While climate change is a global issue, it is felt on a
local scale. Cities and municipalities are therefore at the frontline of adaptation. In
the absence of national or international climate policy direction, cities and local
communities around the world have been focusing on solving their own climate
problems. They are working to build flood defenses, plan for heat waves and higher
temperatures, install water-permeable pavements to better deal with floods and
stormwater and improve water storage and use (climate.nasa.gov).
2. What can we do to help address climate change? (Dela Cruz, Fadrigon, &
Mabaquiao Jr., 2017)
a. At home
Here are some simple steps that you can do to help reduce greenhouse gas
emissions:
 Change light bulbs – Choose light emitting diode (LED) bulbs and
compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) over incandescent bulbs because it is
more energy efficient and it lasts longer.
 Reduce, reuse, and recycle – We can’t stop ourselves from producing
waste as long as we live but an efficient waste management will make a
huge difference.
 Use water efficiently – Heating, pumping and treating water use a lot of
energy and because of this, saving water consumption can help reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. Saving water is a very simple way to help
the environment.
 Practice composting – Composting helps to reduce the amount of
garbage sent to landfills by converting food and yard waste into natural
fertilizers.
b. At the office
Office consumes a large amount of electricity for cooling, lighting, and
operating different equipment. Here are a number of steps that you can do to
help protect the environment and help address climate change.
 Manage your office equipment energy wisely – Save energy by turning
off computer monitors and other office equipment when not in use.
Always unplug power cords when they are not used and always turn off
equipment and lights at the end of the day.

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Learn to commute – Using public transportation, carpooling, or biking

when going to work or school can save energy and reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.
 Reduce, reuse, and recycle – Recycle papers and use them as scratch
papers. Instead of throwing used computers or equipment, donate them
to organizations that needed them.
c. On the road
 Buy a fuel-efficient and low-greenhouse has vehicle – If you are
planning to buy a new car, choose the cleanest, most fuel-efficient
vehicle that can satisfy your needs.
 Drive smart – Go easy on the breaks and gas pedal, avoid hard
accelerations, lessen your time idling, and remove unnecessary items in
your trunk to reduce weight. These are the simple tips that you could
follow to improve your car’s fuel economy.
 Ensure proper car maintenance – Always have regular vehicle tune-ups
and follow car’s maintenance schedule. If your car is well-maintained,
you are assured that it is more fuel-efficient and more reliable.
 Check tires regularly – Check your tire pressure regularly. Cars with
under-inflated tires increase tire wear and reduce car’s fuel economy.
 Use renewable fuels – Use renewable fuels and green fuels for your car
to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

References:
2011, February. Climate Change in the Philippines. Retrieved on August 31, 2017, from
http://dilg.gov.ph/PDF_File/reports_resources/DILG-Resources-2012130-2ef223f591.pdf
2016, September 05. Asian typhoons becoming more intense, study finds. Retrieved on August 31, 2017, from
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/05/asian-typhoons-becoming-more-intense-study-finds
A blanket around the Earth. (n.d.). Retrieved on August 25, 2017, from https://climate.nasa.gov/causes/.
Causes of Climate Change. (n.d.). Retrieved on August 25, 2017, from https://ec.europa.eu/clima/change/causes_en.
Climate Change 2014 Synthesis Report Summary for Policymakers. (2014). Retrieved on August 25, 2017, from
http://ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/syr/AR5_SYR_FINAL_SPM.pdf
Dela Cruz, A. D., Fadrigon, C. C., & Mabaquiao, N. M., (2017). Trends, Networks, and Critical Thinking in the 21 st
Century Culture. Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.
May, S. (2014). What Is Climate Change? Retrieved on August 25, 2017, from
https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/what-is-climate-change-k4.html
Population and Consumption. (n.d.). Retrieved on September 4, 2017, from https://econation.co.nz/population-and-
consumption/
What is Ocean Acidification? Retrieved on August 31, 2017, from
https://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/What+is+Ocean+Acidification%3F

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