CONTEMPORARY ISSUES

destruction of the environment due

to economic growth
● Environmental Issues
Contemporary can be traced to the Latin word
- Related to the environment and the
contemporarius. Its roots –con– means “part of''
effects of human activity
and tempus or tempor– means “time”. Put together,
- Ex. climate change, environmental
they mean “of (this) time”
management in relation to progress,
Contemporary as relating to the present period or
and effective strategies for disaster
from the recent past.
management and risk reduction
● Social Issues
An issue is a topic being debated upon or a point of
- Issues encountered by the different
a heated discussion. An issue is a usual outcome
sectors of society
of an unpleasant discussion or situation that people
- ethnic groupings, religion, sexuality,
would want to address or give remedy to.
and economic standing
- Ex. sexual and religious
Contemporary Issues refer to important topics of
discrimination, ethnic or gender
great relevance that are happening at present or
inequality, and abuse of women and
have happened in the recent past.
children
KINDS OF CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
Connections between issues are not impossible. In
Classifying Based on Field
fact, many issues may be intertwined and
● Political Issues
connected in one way or another.
- Issues on the system of governance,
acquisition and use of political
Classifying Based on Scope
power, and exercise of political
● Local Issues : those that affect a certain
duties and mandates
community, which may be within the
- Ex. proliferation of political
confines of a subdivision, a barangay, a
dynasties, electoral fraud,
province, or a city.
constitutional amendment, and
● National Issues : affect the entire country, a
corruption
majority of its localities, or a large portion of
● Cultural Issues
it.
- Lifestyle, art, literature, and values
● Worldwide Issues : affects many countries
formation
across continents at one time
- Ex. care and preservation of cultural
wealth, neglect of indegenous
Analyzing Contemporary Issues
culture and traditions, and access to
The first step to take towards the conceptualization
good quality education
of a probable solution.
● Economic Issues
1. Finding its manifestations
- Livelihood of people, how they use
2. Identifying its implications
our resources and lack thereof
3. Looking back and learning lessons from the
- Ex. economic globalization,
past
unemployment, high inflation rate,
and the compromise or utter
Acknowledging the Effects and Manifestations
Notable Manifestations : can be seen or felt
These pose as actual proofs that issues are real
and require immediate action
Identifying the manifestations of an issue or a
problem works hand in hand with identifying its
effects as well.
Identifying effects : requires concrete proof which
can be attained through coordinating further on an
issue and its alleged effects
● Post Hoc Fallacy - Be very critical of the
relationship between events especially of
the causes and effects. “After this, therefore
because of this;” a kind of fallacy of the
questionable cause variety
● Begging the Question - a way to answer a
question by giving a statement which in
reality is simply another way of stating the
same question or a question of similar
nature. Explanations used when giving an
answer to a question should be clear and
right on target.
● Circular Reasoning : a fallacy where the
argument also needs much proof to be able
to persuade. A way to connect two factors
or things through cyclical information.
Identifying the Implications
Possible effects or result of an issue, or its
importance in relation to future plans
Looking Back at the Past
Many of the issues we are facing today are issues
that have been in existence for some time or were
the result of events from the past
By looking back at the past, we can see the details
of the different issues surrounding us. This includes
the root cause and even the history of an issue.
Towards the Right Solution
One goal of looking into a contemporary issue is
finding the right solution for it. These are identifying
the roles to play for the different sectors who will
take part in it, identifying and evaluating the current
steps to be taken, and synthesizing or identifying
the right action to take.
Private Sector : a part of the country’s economy
that is not owned or controlled by the
government.
Corporate Social Responsibility - an initiative by
the business sector ; a non-mandatory work or
program of a private company for the benefit of a
chosen cause such as the people or the
environment
Non-Government Organization : a non-profit
group organized to work outside of the
government that is active in humanitarian,
educational, health care, public policy, social,
human rights, environmental, and other areas to
affect changes according to their objectives.
Identifying the Roles to Play
● The Government
It is the role of the government to ensure the safety
and well-being of its citizens. It renders services to
address the needs of the people. The government
is able to make these possible through the different
departments and their agencies.
(Judiciary, Legislative, Executive)
● The Private Sector
Take part in the efforts to remedy timely and
relevant social issues.
Corporations extend a helping an in support of a
government program, or through the launching of a
company program for the benefit of a chosen
cause.
● Non-Governmental Organization
NGOs give out their services to a particular sector
of society or push for an advocacy in support of that
sector.
● The Community
Barangay officials, more than anyone else, should
identify and address the needs of the people in
their community.
● Individuals
Should be the first one to make a move regarding
issues that can affect the self, the community, the
country, or the world.
Identifying and Evaluating the Steps to Take
Listening to news programs ; reading a newspaper
and different articles on the internet.
Toward a Synthesis
Recommendations can now be made for a more
calculated and accurate solution to that issue.
Answering some important questions
From the knowledge and information considered in
the first steps, one can generally answer the
questions.
Civic Consciousness, Genuine Service
Citizens get involved in an issue in one way or
another. Some may even be a part of the cause of
the issue that started it all in the first place.
Some tend to promote the issue even more.
Whatever the case may be, some will inevitably be
part of the solution to the issue.
Interaction of Man and the Environment
Man, as compared to other organisms, could better
comprehend the science of the environment.
Science can analyze the world’’s location, physical
attributes, and man’s interaction with the
environment
Man can also modify what the environment can
offer to suit their needs.
For example, the process of kaingin or the burning
of trees and other plants to convert the land for
farming can significantly increase the crops that
one can harvest.
There is a limitation on the extent by which man
can alter the environment and its natural resources.
Man’s Views on the Environment
Religion
● Judaism, Christianism, and Muslim
Man is the steward of God’s creation. Man should
manage and control the use of natural resources.
● Buddhism
Treasures every living thing.
Every lost organism should be returned back to the
environment.
Philosophy and Politics
● Tim O’Riordan
A british environmentalist writer, there are two kinds
of environmentalists in the world:
1. Technocentric Environmentalist
Man is above the environment. We can solve
environmental problems through the advancement
in science and technology.
2. Ecocentric Environmentalist
Emphasize the equality between the environment
and man. They believe that there are some
scenarios wherein man has to respect and follow
the environment.
How a man value the environment is highly
dependent on his or her views and responsibility to
it.
According to David Pepper, author of the book
Modern Environmentalism and a professor in
Geology, the way man treats the environment is
largely dependent on his or her religion, culture and
societal norms. This concept is also known as
“cultural filter”. These beliefs shape the way man
cares and preserve the environment.
Man and the Environmental Issues in Different Eras
● Homo Sapiens : Evidence of environmental
use and control were first seen.
● Prehistoric Man : used fire to create
materials and weapons
● Ancient Civilization : utilized the fertile soil
near the bodies of water for farming to
provide for their haste needs for food.
● Roman Times : Air pollution became evident
due to the burning of wood, coal, and other
minerals. Romans called air pollution, back
then, as graviolis caeli or “heavy heaven”
● Industrial Revolution : Agricultural Products
significantly increased because of the
machineries that hastened the farming
process. Fabric production accelerated
because of newly invented machines and
additional factories
With progress comes environmental problems
Era/Place Environmental Problem
Industrial Revolution ● The need for wood
increased
● Air pollution
intensified due to
the smoke emitted
by factories in
America and
Europe
● Bodies of water
became polluted
with garbage and
chemical waste
from factories and
other industries
Europe and America Filled with smoke from the
extensive use of coal for the
local and industrial needs
Africa Changes in agricultural
methods implemented
during the era of Imperial
Europe affected animal
habitat and land fertility
Australia Continent’s ecosystem was
gravely affected by the
changes in Europe’s farming
method. The uncontrolled
breeding of cows and sheep
led to erosion and
overgrowing of lands.
Asia Fast growing population in
Asia brought about the
increasing demand for food.
Forests were converted to
farmlands
20th Century We finally confronted the
problems brought about by
these advancements.
Agricultural progress and
industrial growth became a
threat to the environment.
Current Environmental Issues of the Philippines
and the World
Environmental Issues World Event
Pollution Onitsha, a city in Nigeria,
has the most polluted air. Air
pollution can trigger stroke,
heart ailments, lung cancer,
and other chronic diseases
Global Warming NASA recorded the highest
temperature in the word last
April 2016
Overpopulation United Nations Population
Fund declared that the
Philippines is one of the top
asian countries wherein
there is a significant change
in the number of teen
pregnancy for the past two
decades
Climate Change 10,000 hectares of
mangrove died in Northern
Australia. Death of
Mangroves has something
to do with climate change.
The scarcity of rain showers
and continued increase in
the temperature account for
the loss of mangroves.
Deforestation The significant loss of trees
in the Amazon in Brazil
affects the increasing
population of more than
2000 species of plants,
birds, ants and bees. Illegal
logging, kaingin, and farming
are the main causes of
deforestation in some
regions.
Acid Rain Acid Rain destroyed some of
the lakes in Canada. Sulfur
and Nitric Acid brought
about by acid rain have
gravely affected the lakes
and the insects and fishes
living in it. Acid Rain
populates Holopedium, an
organism that transforms the
polluted lake water into a
jelly like substance.
Environmental Issues in the Philippines
The geographical location of the Philippines makes
it prone to different calamities, accidents, and other
environmental hazards. Hazard refers to any
situation in a specific location that may threaten the
health or safety of man.
● Natural Hazards : refers to any event or
situations brought about by natural causes
and cannot be controlled by man. They are
usually dependent on the location and
natural features of a country or city.
1. Hydro-Meteorological Phenomena
and Hazard
- Cyclone, typhoon,
thunderstorm, flood, surge,
landslide, global warming,
and heat wave
2. Geological Phenomena and Hazard
 - Earthquake, tsunami, and
volcanic eruption
● Human Induced Hazards : refers to events
or situations caused by the irresponsibility of
man in promulgating a certain system
1. Environmental Hazard
- Pollution, Deforestation, and
Red Tide
Natural hazard and human-induced hazard are
usually related.
Environmental hazards can become an
environmental disaster or calamity if one or more
towns are in extreme danger as made evident by
the tragic loss of lives and properties.
Climate Change as a Global Issue
Global warming brought about by climate change
has something to do with human activities.
Background of Climate Change
The UN General Assembly first recognized climate
change in 1998 through a resolution sponsored by
the government of Malta. Climate Change is a
“common concern of mankind that should be
addressed immediately.”
NASA defined climate change as the normaal
change in weather in a specific location.
These changes can be manifested through
observable increase in the amount of rainfall or
sudden increase of temperature in a certain place.
Climate change can also refer to the overall shift in
the world temperature or climate.
Characteristics of Climate Change
● Increase in the average world temperature
● Sudden change in cloud movement and
precipitation system
● Melting of ice caps and glaciers in both
north and south pole
● Typhoons and cyclones are becoming more
intense and violent
Climate change and global warming are
interrelated.
Global Warming : refers to the observable increase
in the Earth’s average temperature from its
previous record years ago to the present.
Climate Change in different regions causes some
places to experience extremely hot or cold weather.
It also affects the snow and rainfall occurrences,
which may result in extreme drought in some
regions.
Causes of Climate Change
Greenhouse gasses refer to a type of gas that
absorbs and emits radiant energy. Excessive
amounts of greenhouse gas trap the heat of the
sun in the earth’s atmosphere. This process is
called the greenhouse effect.
How each greenhouse gas contributes to global
warming is dependent on three factors.
● The amount of the said gas in the
atmosphere, the time by which the gas
stays in the atmosphere, and the extent of
trap heat in the Earth’s surface.
● Carbon Dioxide is the most abundant
greenhouse gas found in the atmosphere. It
comes from the burning of fossil fuels to
produce oil and electricity, cutting down of
trees, and other industrial and
manufacturing activities.
● Methane, another greenhouse gas, is far
more destructive than carbon dioxide. It can
trap 20% more heat as compared to carbon
dioxide.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) notes chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as one of
the most destructive greenhouse gasses to the
Earth’s ozone layer.
There is also a 90% possibility that the excessive
greenhouse gas was brought about by human
activities. Scientist Gerald Meehl noted that global
warming should be controlled to avoid further
damage in the future.
The burning of fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural
gas and the excessive cutting of trees are the major
causes of global warming.
Effects of Climate Change in the Future
Phenomenon Effects in Different Sectors
Frequency of heat wave and Poor yield of different
warm spells in different agricultural products on
regions warm places and a high
possibility of wildfire
Requires high supply of
water that may result to
water shortages or crisis
High incidents of heat stroke
and other related illness in
both children and adults
Low quality of living for
people who lack proper
shelter in hot places
Excessive Precipitation Destruction of agricultural
crops due to erosion and
difficulty in planting crops
due to flooding
Contamination, endangering
the quality of the surface
water and groundwater
Floods that may affect
businesses, transportation,
and housing
Strong and powerful Destroy agricultural crops,
typhoons trees, and coral reefs
Endanger human and
animal life through the
prevalence of food borne
diseases and stress disorder
Destruction of property,
infrastructure, and livelihood
resulting to migration
Rising Sea Levels Effect on the level of salinity
which may impact the
freshwater irrigation
Forced migration of different
coastal communities
Programs, Policies, and Rules on Climate Change
The negative effects of climate change on
agriculture, marine life, forests, food security,
health, livelihood, and infrastructure are proof that
this is a global issue that should be resolved by all
countries involved
● IPCC is famous for suggesting solutions to
alleviate the problems of climate change.
They highlighted in 1990 during its first
assessment report the importance of
recognizing climate change as one of the
biggest global issues that requires the
cooperation of different countries to be
resolved.
● United Nations Framework Convention on
CLimate Change (UNFCCC) where
international treaties to address climate
change were formulated
UNFCC
● History
Is a global organization that is concerned with
environmental issues. It was established during the
Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992.
Uniting different countries against climate change
by controlling the heightened rate of global
warming. To date, 197 countries are all working
together against climate change.
● Movement of UNFCC
1. Lessen the level of concentration of
greenhouse gasses in the
atmosphere through the control of
human activities that induces it.
2. Believes the highly progressive
countries should have the initiative
to implement new measures to
lessen the production of greenhouse
gas in different industries.
3. Should manage human activities
that trigger climate change without
sacrificing their opportunities for
progress
Sustainable development policies for mitigation and
adaptation to the issues of climate change were
discussed in their fourth assessment report in 2007.
The following mitigation practices are noted in the
said report.
 ● Kyoto Protocol (1997)
Started in Kyoto, Japan
KP unites the 37 highly industrialized countries and
the European community in its campaign to lessen
the greenhouse gas emission by 5%
In 2012, the Doha Amendment for the Kyoto
Protocol was approved. It stipulates measures on
how to significantly lessen greenhouse gas
emissions from 2013 to 2020.
● Paris Agreement
Is made in partnership with the UNFCC
It contains provisions that aim to intensify the
campaign against climate change. The agreement
would like to see to it that the global temperature
would not increase by more than 2degrees celsius
It aims to strengthen the capacity of each country to
combat climate change. It was inaugurated during
the 21st Annual Conference of the Parties (COP).
This event is also known as COP21
Philippines in the Midst of Climate Change
Climate change is considered a natural hazard. We
recognize the gravity of the possible repercussions
if we will not address this serious problem.
Philippines’ Contribution in Fighting Climate
Change
Based on the data, Indonesia ranked first among
the southeast asian countries with the biggest GHG
contribution in 2010. The remaining four countries
with the largest share of GHG emissions are —
China (17.5%0, United States (14.91%), Russia
(6.09%), and India (4.70%).
The Philippines is 6th of the 11 southeast Asian
countries with the most GHG contribution with
0.31% in 2010. The Phillipines’ GHG emission
increased by 3.25% for the past twenty years.
Strategy of the Philippines in Limiting the
Contribution to Climate Change
Developing countries like the Philippines has no
direct responsibility in lessening GHG emissions
without sacrificing their economic growth
Climate Change Commission (CCC)
To address this worldwide issue, the “Climate
Change Act of 2009” or RA 9729 was passed under
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s term, This
gave way to the establishment of the Climate
Change Commission (CCC) under the office of the
President
● Vision
A climate resilient and climate smart Philippines
with highly adaptive communities.
● Mission
To take the lead in the development and
mainstreaming of evidence based climate
adaptation and mitigation policies
Disaster Risk Reduction Management Against
Global Warming and Climate Change
Department of Education (DepEd) published a
manual on Disaster Risk Reduction in coordination
with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
This manual contains important information about
the different natural hazards like global warming,
climate change, and other human-induced hazards.
Heat Wave : is a natural hazard in relation to
climate change. Extreme heat is fatal. Victims of
heat waves are usually the elderly, young people,
or people with weak immune systems.
Definition and Categories of Waste
Waste : refers to anything such as food, leaves,
papers, plastics, bottles, candy wrappers,
disposable diapers, remains and chemicals in the
factories, dilapidated vehicles, and materials that
are radioactive. These are things that are not
needed and cannot be used or utilized anymore.
Solid Waste : refers to solid materials that have a
negative economic value, that it will be cheaper to
throw them away than to use them again.
According to RA No, 9003, solid waste “shall refer
to all discarded household, commercial waste,
non-hazardous institutional and industrial waste,
street sweepings, construction debris, agricultural
waste, and other non-toxic solid waste.”
Different Categories of Waste:
● Household Waste Process Description
● Commercial Waste
● E-Waste Collection The act of removing or
collecting solid waste from
● Hazardous Waste its source or storage point to
● Industrial Waste the intended destination. It is
usually carried out by dump
● Building Waste trucks. Waste is usually
● Agricultural Waste brought to a place for
● Municipal Waste segregation and treatment

Composting The process utilized for

Waste Disposal as an Issue organic waste where
decomposition is
There are no things wasted when it comes to implemented with the help of
nature. bacteria and fungi.

Incineration Also called combustion ot

Humans started to face problems on different kinds the controlled burning of
of wastes because of the complexity of the nation's waste using an
economic systems like production and consumption oxygen-enriched combustion
chamber and auxiliary fuel.
of things. Wastes become hazardous as they
destroy and pollute the environment and endanger Sanitary Landfill A waste disposal site
designed, constructed,
the health as well as the lives of people and other operated, and maintained
organisms. through utmost caution and
Solid waste is commonly associated with control to avoid causing
harm to the environment
urbanization and economic development of a
nation. While a community experiences progress, Recycling The usual segregation of
materials or things under the
the people’s rate of consumption increases. category of waste to have
these materials suitable for
The massive increase of waste in primary cities will beneficial use in any
purpose
surely pose a serious problem that the government
and its citizens must face and resolve. Source Reduction Also called waste reduction.
This involves product
designing, manufacturing, or
Solid Waste Management making use of materials that
Solid Waste Management will reduce the volume and
make the product long
- Refers to the proper handling of thrown or lasting.
disposed materials and finding ways to
reuse or recycle them for other purposes.
The Philippines in Facing the Issue of Waste
- RA 9003: “shall refer to as the discipline
Disposal
associated with the control of generation,
RA 9003 “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act”
storage, collection, transfer and transport,
This law aims to create a systematic,
processing, and disposal of solid wastes in
comprehensive, and ecological program suited for
a manner that is in accord with the best
solid waste management in the country. It also aims
principles of public health, economics,
to give importance to the role of the local
engineering, conservation, aesthetics, and
government in their own locality.
other environmental considerations, and
● National Ecology Center
that is also responsive to public attitudes.”
● Provincial Solid Waste Management Board
● City/Municipal Solid Waste Management
Solid waste management’s primary advocacy is to
Board
take good care of society and its environment
The volume of waste generated by the country is
against the harmful effects of waste.
expected to increase annually. Metro Manila also
shows an increasing generation of waste and is
expected to generate more than four million tons by
the end of 2018.
The problems caused by the waste coming from
residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional
sources, have accompanying effects in the
environment and even to human health
Effects on the Environment
- Contamination of surface water and
groundwater
- Air, water, and land pollution
- Methane gas produced from dump sites
adds to global warming
- Flooding in many areas because of clogging
of drainages and floodways
Effects on Human Health
- Diarrhea
- Helminthiasis or worm infection
- Typhoid and Paratyphoid
- Cholera
- Hepatitis A
- Skin Diseases
Philippines Situation under the Implementation of
RA 9003
The enactment of RA 9003 officially sets the
government to focus on the problem caused by the
increasing generation of waste in the country.
The most effective means to limit waste generation
is to avoid throwing things away and reduce the
quantity of waste generated. Other effective means
are to reuse and recycle. There are also other
useful but limited means for waste management,
such as recovery, treatment, and safe-disposal.
Focus of RA 9003
- Avoidance, Reduction, and Reuse
- Segregation and Source
- Segregated Collection
- Recovery and Processing
- Disposal
Aside from the issue of waste disposal, a problem
regarding forests around the world and in our
country is also getting worse.
Importance of Forests in the Ecosystem
● Forests serve as a habitat for millions of
plants and animal species, as well as
humans.
● They have abundant natural resources that
serve as food and raw materials for making
structures
● A lot of medicines in curing diseases also
come from the forests.
● Forests are considered as “Lungs of the
Earth”
● Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release
oxygen that humans and animals need.
● Also helps protect the world against global
warming
● Also influence global climate such as air
movement, humidity, air quality, and
precipitation in a particular place or region
Deforestation Issue
Deforestation : refers to the clearing of vast tracts
of forestland by cutting down trees. The common
cause of deforestation is conversion into
agricultural, commercial, or residential land.
It is also caused by the rampant cutting of trees to
be used for various wooden products. Forest fires
and other calamities also worsen deforestation.
World Resources Institute
- A global organization on research focused
on conserving and preventing the natural
resources of the world.
The continued worsening of deforestation in the
world entails a lot of problems :
● Flooding
● Drought : Desertification is the process
where the soil suffers continuous
degradation and loses its ability to support
any living thing
● Soil Erosion and Landslide
● Effect on Climate
● Loss of Livelihood
● Health Issues
The Philippines in Facing the Issue of Deforestation
Forests are a major resource of the Philippines.
The interaction of forests with other components of
the ecosystem such as land, air, and water really
makes a contribution to a healthy and balanced
environment.
The Condition of Philippine Forests
The Philippines is recognized as one of the 17
megadiversity countries in the whole world which
accounts for two-thirds of the world biodiversity and
also 70 to 80 percent of plant and animal species in
the world.
These serve as foundations in building industries
that give livelihood to citizens. Forests also serve
as a foundation in building industries that give
livelihood to the citizens.
Forests also serve a valuable role in the unity and
solidarity of the indeginous people who live here
and the surrounding areas.
The Philippines is naturally endowed with vast
areas of forests.
Deforestation Issue in the Country
The diminishing forest land area is brought about
by residential, agricultural, and industrial needs.
People living in the forest and its surrounding areas
usually cut down trees for their everyday living. A
large part of the forest area is also affected by
expanding agricultural lands.
Logging and exporting wood are some of the
sources of revenue by the government, businesses,
and industries related to wood products.
Some of the causes of deforestation are illegal
logging, slash and burn agriculture, and forest fire.
Mining also contributes to the continued
deforestation in the country.
Steps for Reforestation
The government implemented different programs,
projects, and regulations aimed at renewing and
regenerating forest areas. This process is called
reforestation.
The DENR leads the reforestation in the country.
Under the management of the DENR is the Forest
Management Bureau (FMB). This bureau provides
technical assistance for the effective protection,
development and conversion of forests and
watersheds in the country.
National Greening Program
This program aims to implement an extensive
rehabilitation of the forests in the country.
The NGP is also a strategy to combat climate
change because the increasing number of trees
can help reduce carbon dioxide content in the
atmosphere.
The NGP is designed to alleviate poverty and to
provide alternative livelihood to the communities
within the forest and surrounding areas.
The government works hand-in-hand with the
different NGOs in giving protection to Philippine
forests. One of these is the Philippine Tropical
Forest Conservation Foundation. It aims to provide
grants and to give assistance to organizations
whose projects aspire to protect, conserve, or
restore the forests in the country.
● National Forest Protection Program
● Forest Management Project
● Integrated Natural Resources and
Environmental Management Project
The government and its partner organizations from
the private sector continue to implement measures
to take care of our forests. Nevertheless, these
efforts will gain more success if more individuals
will know the real value of our forests and will be
active in giving it protection.