CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL
WARMING
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
 Analyze the global impact of climate
change.
 Generate innovative practices and solutions
in
 reducing the amount of greenhouse gases
in the atmosphere.
 Reflect critically on the causes of climate
change and see how human activities affect
the climate.
 Use basic concepts in investigating the
evidences of global warming and climate
change on Earth.
INTRODUCTION
The environment has been influenced by human
beings for centuries. However, it is only since the
beginning of the industrial revolution that the
impact of human activities has begun to extend to
a global scale. Today, environmental issue becomes
the biggest concern of mankind as a consequence
of scientific evidence about the increasing
concentration of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere and the changing climate of the Earth.
Globally, temperature is increasing and the amount
and distribution of rainfall is being altered.
 Global warming and climate change has
emerged as an important global concern
cutting across geographical and national
boundaries.The on-going production of green
house gaseshas meant that more and more heat is
being trapped in the earth’s atmosphere, so we
essentially heating up. This is what is known
as global warming .
Since industrialization, the earth’s
temperature has risen by 0.7 degrees-if we do not
take action soon, by 2100 temperatures could
increase by as much as 5 degrees. This
temperature increase will have a dramatic and
devastating effect upon the world around us,
leading to more extreme weather events and
further widespread extinction of many animal and
plant species.
 Human activities have added greenhouse
gases to the atmosphere: CO₂, mainly from
deforestation and fossil fuel combustion,
methane and nitrous oxides from agriculture
and waste, and flourinated gases from
industrial processes. These additional
greenhouse gases are responsible for the
additional warming of the earth. This is the
enhanced greenhouse effect.
 WHAT IS GREENHOUSE EFFECT?
The greenhouse effect is a process that occurs
when gases in Earth’s atmosphere trap the
Sun’s heat.
 GREENHOUSE GASES AND THEIR SOURCES:
Carbon dioxide(CO₂)has both natural and
human sources, but CO₂ levels are increasingly
primarily because of the combustion of fossil
fuels, cement production
 Methane(CH₄)has both human and natural
sources,
and levels have risen significantly since
pre-industrial times due to human activities such as
raising livestock, growing paddy rice, filling
landfills, and using natural gas(which is mostly CH₄,
some of which may be released when it is
extracted,
transported, and used.
 Nitrous oxide(N₂)concentrations have risen
primarily because of agricultural activities such as
the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers and land use
changes.
 Halocarbons including
chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs),
are chemicals used as refrigerants and fire
retardants. In addition to being potent greenhouse
gases, CFCs also damage the ozone layer. The
production of most CFCs has now been banned, so
their impact is starting to decline. However, many
CFC replacements are also potent greenhouse
gases and their concentrations and the
concentrations of other halocarbons continue to
increase.
 Water vapour is the most abundant
greenhouse
gas in the atmosphere, both by weight and by
volume. Water vapour is also an effective
greenhouse gas, as it does absorb long wave
radiation and radiates back to the surface, thus
contributing to warming.
The addition of water vapour to the atmosphere,
for the most part, cannot be directly attributed to
human generated activities. Increased water vapor
content in the atmosphere is referred to as
feedback process. Warmer air is able to hold more
moisture. As the climate warms, air temperatures
rise, more evaporation from water sources and
land occurs, thus increasing the atmospheric
moisture content.is the most abundant greenhouse
gas in the atmosphere, both by weight and by
volume. Water vapour is also an effective
greenhouse gas, as it does absorb long wave
radiation and radiates back to the surface, thus
contributing to warming.The addition of water
vapour to the atmosphere, for the most part,
cannot be directly attributed to human generated
activities. Increased water vapor content in the
atmosphere is referred to as feedback process.
Warmer air is able to hold more moisture. As the
climate warms, air temperatures rise, more
evaporation from water sources and land occurs,
thus increasing the atmospheric moisture content.
 Ozone-absorbs radiation and consequently
act as a strong greenhouse gas.
Tropospheric ozone affects the climate
beyond increased warming, having impacts
on evaporation rates, cloud formation,
precipitation levels, and atmospheric
circulation.
CLIMATE vs. WEATHER
CLIMATE refers to the average weather
conditions of a place over a long period of
time.
WEATHER on the other hand,refers to the
day-to-day conditions of earth’s atmosphere
at a particular place and time.
THE CLIMATE SYSTEM
 Earth’s climate system consists of land,
water in all its phases, air ,and all living
things.It is all these elements that make
modeling the climate system so complex.
Our climate system is driven by two things:
(1)The way energy from the sun moves in and out
of the atmosphere.
(2)The way heat is transported around the
atmosphere and the oceans.
Energy from the sun is the main driver for our
climate system. When the energy from the sun
reaches the atmosphere, some is absorbed and
some is reflected, mainly by clouds. Most of the
remaining energy heats the earth’s surface,
although again, a tiny fraction is reflected. The
earth’s surface then loses its heat again through
rising air currents, radiation, and the evaporation
of water.
 Some of this heat passes straight through
the atmosphere and back to space, but
some is absorbed by greenhouse gases like
CO₂, water vapour, methane, and ozone.
Most of the air-nitrogen and oxygen -does
not do this. The atmosphere reemits the
absorbed heat.
 Some escapes to space, but some heats the
earth’s surface again. Eventually, all the
heat escapes into space, but not before the
temperature of the planet has been raised
enough to allow us to live comfortably on
earth. If the greenhouse gases didn’t absorb
and reemit the heat, we wouldn’t be able to
live on earth.
 EVIDENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE
 The main reason of climate change is
the increase in the concentration of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
due to several natural and
anthropogenic activities.
Global atmospheric concentrations of CO₂,
methane and nitrous oxide have increased
markedly as a result of human activities.The
global increases in CO₂ concentration are
due primarily to fossil fuel use and land use change,
while those of methane and nitrous oxide are
primarily due to agriculture.
The main characteristics of climate change
are increases in average global
temperature(global warming):changes in
cloud cover and precipitation particularly
over land; melting ice caps and glaciers and
reduced snow cover; and increases in ocean
temperatures and ocean acidity-due to sea
water absorbing heat and carbon dioxide
from the atmosphere.
CLIMATE CHANGE EVIDENCES
FROM PHYSICAL SYSTEMS
INCREASE IN SEA WATER TEMPERATURE-
The ocean absorbs most of the excess heat from
greenhouse gas emissions, leading to rising ocean
temperatures.
Increasing ocean temperatures affect marine
species and ecosystems. Rising temperatures cause
coral bleaching and the loss of breeding grounds
for marine fishes and mammals.
MELTING OF MOUNTAIN GLACIERS AND
SNOW- As global warming causes more snow and
ice to melt each summer, the ocean and land that
were underneath the ice are exposed at the
Earth’s surface. Because they are darker in color,
the ocean and land absorb more incoming solar
radiation, and then release the heat to the
atmosphere. This causes more global
warming.
SEA LEVEL RISE-This sea level rise has been
driven by expansion of water volume as the
ocean warms, melting of mountain glaciers in
all regions of the world, and mass losses from
the Greenland and Antarctic sheets. All of these
result from a warming climate.
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION-Direct observations of
ocean chemistry have shown that the chemical
balance of sea water has shifted to a more acidic
state(lower pH).Some marine organisms(such as
corals and some shellfish)have shells composed of
calcium carbonate, which dissolves more readily in
acid. As the acidity of sea water increases, it
becomes more difficult for these organisms to form
or maintain their shells.
STRENGHT AND FREQUENCY OF
FLOODS,DROUGHTS,HURRICANES,AND
TORNADOES
As Earth’s climate has warmed, more
frequent and more intense weather events have
both been observed around the world. Many
factors contribute to any individual extreme
event-including patterns of natural climate
variability, such as El Niño and La Niña.
 A warming climate can contribute to the
intensity of heat waves by increasing the
chances of very hot days and nights. Climate
warming also increases evaporation on land,
which can worsen drought and create
conditions more prone to wildfire and a longer
wildfire season
 A warming atmosphere is also associated
with
heavier precipitation events(rain and
snowstorms)through increases in the air’s
capacity to hold moisture.
 Earth’s warmer and moister atmosphere
and
warmer oceans make it likely that the strongest
hurricanes will be more intense, produce more
rainfall, affect new areas, and possibly be larger
and longer-lived.
  In addition, sea level rise increases the
amount of
sea water that is pushed on to shore during
coastal storms, which, along with more rainfall
produced by the storms, can result in more
destructive storm surges and flooding.
 Some conditions favourable for strong
thunderstorms that spawn tornadoes are
expected to increase with warming, but
uncertainty exists in other factors that affect
tornado formation, such as changes in the
vertical and horizontal variations of wind.
CLIMATE CHANGE EVIDENCES
FROM BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
 Hundreds of studies were done on changes
of fish, plankton, and algal populations,
plants, sand trees,insects, and animals.
Observations from these studies show a
very strong correlation with the changes in
climate. Populations shift their ranges to areas
where the climate has become favourable and
disappear from areas where the climate is no
longer appropriate. Often this means a pole ward
movement of the ranges. Blooming occurs earlier.
But it also means that mismatches are occurring
between migratory bird breeding and availability of
certain caterpillars or insects.
 The caterpillars or insects react to the
higher temperatures by coming out earlier,
but the migratory birds still arrive at the
usual time and do not find the regular food
for their young. In agriculture, changes have
already occurred in terms of earlier
planting, leading to a longer growing
season, but also in the form of crop
failures due to changing rainfall patterns .
ADAPTING CROPPING PATTERNS TO
CLIMATE CHANGE
-Crops respond strongly to temperature and
precipitation, and numerous studies indicate
that projected changes in climate with
increased atmospheric CO₂ will alter when,
where and how crops are grown.
 Warmer temperatures usually accelerate
development, resulting in earlier flowering and
maturity. Warmer temperatures, however, also
may allow a longer growing season if the length
is otherwise delimited by early-or late-season
low temperatures, including frosts.
 Temperature also affects potential growth
and
can induce acute stresses such as frost damage or
heat stress.
-Further effects of temperature on soil processes
and evapotranspiration can be expected, and
although trends are less certain, climate change
will also affect precipitation patterns.
ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Adaptation refers to the modification of biological
and non-biological mechanism or measures, which
help the organism to cope with the new sets of
environmental stresses following upon their
exposure for their survival, growth and
development. But there is a limit of adaptation to
what extent and magnitude the organism are
flexible to modify their biological systems in order
to cope with environmental stresses to varying
extent of survival and production. Apart from
natural adaptability of organism including crop
plants, some of the man-made coping strategies
could also be practiced/implemented to minimize
climatic risks.
ADAPTATION /MITIGATION
STRATEGIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE
MITIGATION –involves all human
interventions which reduce the sources of
greenhouse gases and which embrace the
sinks of these GHG’s.
PHILIPPINE CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY
1991
Inter-Agency Committee on Climate
Change(IACCC)Established(A.O.220)
2004 WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2000
DENR as Designated National Authority for Clean
Development In partnership with stakeholders, the law aims
Mechanism(CDM) E.O.320 to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and
ecological solid waste management program
2009 that shall ensure the protection of public health
CLIMATE CHANGE ACT OF 2009 (RA 9729) and and environment. The law ensures proper
creation of the segregation, collection, storage, treatment and
CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION disposal of solid waste through the formulation
and adaptation of best eco-waste products.
2010
Philippine Strategy on Climate Change Adaptation REPUBLIC ACT 9275 PHILIPPINE CLEAN
National Framework Strategy on Climate Change WATER ACT OF 2004
Philippine National Red Cross Strategy
The law aims to protect the country’s water
2011 bodies from pollution from land-based
Cabinet Cluster on Climate Change Adaptation and sources(industries and commercial
Mitigation (EO 43) establishments, agriculture and
National Climate Change Action Plan community/household activities).It provides
for comprehensive and integrated strategy to
2012 prevent and minimize pollution through a
Peoples’ Survival Fund (RA 10174) multi-sectoral and participatory approach
involving all the stakeholders.
2013
Supplemental Guidelines for Integrating Climate REPUBLIC ACT 8749 PHILIPPINE CLEAN
Change Adaptation AIR ACT OF 1999
and Disaster Risk Reduction & Management on
Comprehensive The law aims to achieve and maintain clean
Land Use Planning air that meets the National Air Quality for
guideline values for criteria pollutants,
2014 throughout the Philippines, while
Institutionalizing the Philippine Green House Gas minimizing the possible associated impacts
Inventory to the economy.
Management and Reporting System (EO 174)
REPUBLIC ACT 6969 TOXIC SUBSTANCES,
2015 HAZARDOUS AND NUCLEAR WASTE CONTROL
Joint memorandum Circular DBM-CCC 2015-01 ACT OF 1990
Climate Change
Expenditure Tagging The law aims to regulate, restrict or prohibit the
importation, manufacture, processing, sale,
2016 distribution, use and disposal of chemical
Adopting the Policy on Ensuring Sustainable substances and mixtures the present unreasonable
Renewable Resource risk to human health. It likewise prohibits the
Management (EO 206) entry, even in transit, of hazardous and nuclear
wastes and their disposal into the Philippine
MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS territorial limits for whatever purpose; and to
provide advancement and facilitate research and
studies on toxic chemicals.
REPUBLIC ACT 9003 ECOLOGICAL SOLID
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 1586 ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) STATEMENT OF 1978

The Environmental Impact Assessment System was

formally established in 1978 with the enactment of
Presidential Decree no.1586 to facilitate the
attainment and maintenance of rational and
orderly
balance between socio-economic development and
environmental protection.EIA is a planning and
management tool that will help government,
decision makers, the proponents and the affected
community address the negative consequences or
risks on the environment. The process assures
implementation of environment-friendly projects.