LESSON 2.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:

1. Identify the causes of climate change

2. Assess the various impacts of climate change including economic, geopolitical,
biological, meteorological, etc.
3. Apply STS concepts to the issue of climate change

CONCEPTUAL BACKGROUND

This portion focuses on concepts of climate change and its various impacts on biological
and ecological diversity and how these phenomena influence societal well-being. This section also
put emphasis on the measures established by various local, national and international agencies and
institution to address the rapid proliferation of this. This is to spread and strengthen environmental
awareness among citizens specially the young generation, the students.

Climate change has been a global concern for it widely affects variety of environmental
and sociological aspects across the globe. The consequences of human activities put nature into
pressure and verge of deterioration.

CLIMATE

Climate is defined as the average weather pattern characterized by the mean precipitation,
temperature and wind for a long period of time. A climate system is established through a
complex interaction of bodies of water, land surface and atmosphere.

FACTORS AFFECTING CLIMATE

1. Winds
Wind is the movement of air from area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. During
this movement, moisture is carried by the winds to the land masses. Directions of winds
differ from one location to another with respect to the equator. As the Earth rotates around
its axis, winds are deflected differently both in Northern hemisphere and southern
hemisphere. These global wind patterns are caused by the uneven heating of the earth’s
surface thus affected highly by the temperature across particular areas.
 A phenomenon known as, coriolis effect, resulted from these discrepancies of temperature
which causes the curving of the winds in northern and southern part of the globe. Heat of
the sun is directly focused on the area around the equator throughout the year. Warm air
in these areas tend to rise above the equator and moves toward the pole. The air in the
poles is cooler which tend to move down
lis.htm towards the equator.
The movement wind
does not happen in a straight direction but rather in a curved way because of the rotation
of the earth around its axis. Thus, winds in northern hemisphere appear to curve in the
right while that of southern hemisphere appear to curve in right.
The interaction of the warm and cold air in the tropics produces humidity, thunderstorm
and monsoons.

2. Mountains
Mountains block winds and force it to rise up into the atmosphere. As the air
moves up, it gets cooler due to increase in altitude; as a result, the air condenses and
causes precipitation. This part of the mountain where rain is prominent is called
windward side. On the other hand, the other side of the mountain referred as leeward side,
the climate is arid and dry.
 3. Oceans
Ocean is a great reservoir for heat, moisture and carbon dioxide which are
continuously exchange in the environment and atmosphere. The water has high heat
capacity that enables it to absorb solar radiation from the sun, and slowly release heat for
several months or years. The large amount of heat and carbon dioxide stored in the ocean
drive weather patterns and influence changes in the climate of a particular area.

CLIMATE CHANGE

As the years go by, climate system evolves and gradually

changes depending on the influencing factors that initiate
alteration of the usual mechanisms of climate. Several
external factors affect the climate system such as
“external forcings” which include natural phenomena
such as volcanic eruptions and changes in solar power
radiations. Human abusive activities also contribute to
these processes thus lead to the so called “climate
change”.

Climate change is the result of the change in the earth’s

energy balance. Heat from the sun enters the earth
surface and should normally be reflected out of the
atmosphere. However, due to several factors that From: https://images.app.goo.gl/mMzjMqrrXT8kJNYR
9
deteriorate the atmospheric condition of the earth, heat
cannot be reflected back to space, thus heat accumulates and causes warming of the environment,
this scenario usually referred to as Global warming.
The warming of the environment is the result of the accumulation of greenhouse gases in
the atmosphere such as Carbon Dioxide (CO 2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). These
natural greenhouse gases maintain the warm temperature of the planet by preventing warm air
from escaping to the space.
 The heat absorbed by any greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is reflected to its global
warming potential (GWP). The GWP of natural greenhouse gases are relatively smaller compared
to the man-made gases like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs),
perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6). These gases are produced from
transportations vehicles, agriculture and industrial processes and other anthropogenic activities
which considerably increase the amount of natural greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that leads
to global warming.

Image from: http://www.change-climate.com/Greenhouse_Gases.htm

CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Natural Causes:
1. Volcanic Eruptions
Volcanic activities such as major eruptions
naturally contribute to climate change. During
eruption, numerous gases and aerosols are ejected
and released out of the volcano. Volcanic carbon
dioxide adds up to the CO 2 concentration in the
atmosphere while sulfate aerosols has the ability to
deplete the ozone layer which protects the planet
from UV radiation from the sun. Sulfate aerosols
are produced from the condensation of sulfuric acid The June 12, 1991eruption columnfrom Mount Pinatubo
in the atmosphere which comes from the sulfur taken from theeast side of Clark Air Base.
dioxide emitted during volcanic eruptions. Image from:https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/june
-
12-1991-eruption-column-mount-pinatubo

2. Solar Variation
Variations in the energy generated by the sun affect the earth’s climate and
cause changes throughout time. The relationship of the earth’s orbit around the sun is
a major factor that can alter the distribution of energy to the earth’s surface. This is
one of the reasons why the geographical location of countries has direct relationship
to climate. Thus, due to energy distribution, it changes the rate of solar heating of the
earth as well as cloud formation process is affected.

Anthropogenic Activities
1. Deforestation
One of the primary contributors to
climate change is deforestation.
According to World bank, the lost 502,000 square
miles (1.3 million square kilometers) of forest
from 1990 to 2016. The forests serve as carbon
sink which lessens the effect of climate change.
Logging operations which are used for
paper manufacturing and other wood products
across the globe highly contribute to
deforestation. Loggers who are acting illegally
are also considered in this detrimental scenario.
Apart from intentional deforestation, there
are variety of natural phenomenon that adds to
deforestation such as wildfires that prevents the
sprout of young plants and trees at the same time
displaces habitats
An aerial view of logs illegally cut from the Amazon

of animals in a particular place. rainforest seen in sawmills near Humaita, Brazil.

Photograph: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters

2. Industrial Processes
Large percentage of
CO2 emitted in the
atmosphere came from
industrial activities. Burning of
fossil fuels which are utilized for
wide array of machineries for
industrial production of goods and
products have contributed
greatly in the emission of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Aside from burning fossil
fuels, there are numerous
anthropogenic activities that trigger
the rapid emissions of these harmful
gases such as mining of coal,
burning of fuels
for transportation, cooking, heating,
electricity and oil refining. Other
than these emissions, pollutants in water, soil and air are also getting worse than ever
before.
 Increased burning of fossil fuels contributes to climate change.
(Photo: Chris Conway/Getty Images)

IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

1. Ocean Acidification
Ocean is a house to many organisms. The increase of CO 2 emitted in the
atmosphere; large amount of this compound is as well dissolved into the ocean. Once CO 2
is dissolved in water it forms carbonic acid that potentially lowers the pH of the body of
water. Ocean water has a pH of 8.2, however, as time goes by it is continuously dropping.
The changes in the pH of the ocean highly affect the functioning of living
organisms that thrive in there. One example is the high rate of dissolution of shells and
skeletons of crustaceans which are mainly made up of calcium carbonate.
Most processes in living organisms depend on protein functioning however, this
process could highly be affected by the continuous changes in the pH of the water.

2. Rise of Sea levels

Global temperature is continuously increasing as a result glaciers and ice caps
from polar regions are melting at a rapid rate increasing the sea level. In addition, warm
temperature makes the volume of water to expand. In early 20 th century, an increase of
0.12 inches per year has been recorded in the sea level.

3. Water supply and demands

Extremes climates are beginning to commence due to adverse changes in the
climate systems, where dry places could become extremely drier than before and damp or
wet climate could experience wetter seasons. As a result of this phenomenon, water
supply is altered as seasonal rhythms of precipitation are already changing into an
unknown time scale.

4. Ecological impacts

a. Shifts in species ranges

This pertains on the location from which certain species are able to
survive and reproduce. As the temperature increases in various part of the world,
organisms especially animals, are seeking for a more conducive place to live in,
 with tolerable environmental condition. Many species are migrating or relocating
themselves as a response to changing condition of the ecosystem some of these
factors are precipitation and temperature.

b. Shifts in phenology
This one focuses more on the changes in the timing of biological
activities which is prominent at a certain time of the season. Temperature highly
affects the phenological shifts of organisms thus, the changes in temperature due
to climate change disrupts the natural phonological patterns. Biological
functioning of organisms responds to these changes affecting their population
dynamics and species interaction.

c. Extinction
Variety of species of plants and animals live across the globe. They
survive through adaptation to the environment. In this case, as the world’s climate
is shifting and adversely changing through human activities, accumulation of
greenhouse gases and contributing to the warming of the planet, each ecosystem
found in different parts of the globe are severely affected. Small scale extinctions
are already commencing and continuously getting worse day by day. Harvard
biologist E. O. Wilson estimates that 30,000 species per year (or three species per
hour) are being driven to extinction. With such figures, numerous species are at
risk of being extinct for the next 100 years.

5. Shrinking productivity of Harvest

Global agriculture is being affected by the continuous elevation of temperature.
Cultivated crops in both temperate and tropical regions grow in a specific temperature,
precipitation and heat exposure. The significant change in climate patterns, especially the
surge of heat waves and extreme environmental phenomena put agricultural crops into
pressure that highly affects the harvest and agricultural productivity of countries.

6. Extreme meteorological phenomena will cause poverty

Climate change brings challenges on society by compromising their livelihoods.
Natural phenomena on the advent of extreme weather brought by global warming have
already been commencing in different parts of the world. The increased frequency and
intensity of wildfires, typhoons and hurricanes, tornadoes, heat waves, droughts and
floods impend food supply of the society. Relocate people, destroys agriculture and
livelihood that leave community in poverty and famine.

7. Spread of diseases
Various researches show the link between climate change and spread of infectious
diseases. One of the key points scientists are looking is the climate variability that
consequently shows relationship to transmission of diseases. For instance, the malaria
epidemic in India has been connected to the excessive monsoon rainfall which enhances
mosquito breeding and reproduction.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

As ecological steward, human beings have the responsibility to take good care of the
environment, protect the sustainability of earth and promote development without compromising
the planet. But as civilizations prosper and developments continuously evolve, the environment
has been put into huge pressure as never before.
To remind countries of its responsibility in saving earth from its rapid downfall on climate
change and global warming, united nations promote environmental awareness through laws and
protocols joined by several countries across the globe.

United Nations legal instruments

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change As a front liner in
promoting environmental awareness, United Nation (UN) initiated the conduct of
“Earth summit” in 1992. As part of this, United Nation Framework Convention
on climate Change (UNFCCC) was promulgated as the initial step to address the
climate change around the world. To inhibit dangerous human interference with
the climate system is the main goal of the convention.
• Kyoto Protocol
This protocol was established in the year 1997, which primarily aim to
bind member countries to help in reduction of emission of greenhouse gases and
pollutants to the environment. To
• Paris Agreement
In 2015, Paris agreement was established upon UNFCCC. This is to
allegedly fight off climate change and strengthen the implementation of actions
and activities concerning reduction of CO 2 emission in the environment to
achieve a low carbon future.
• 2019 climate action summit
This climate summit aimed to bind world government leaders, private
sectors along with the society as a whole, to reinforce and toughen the various
processes with high effectivity and efficiency rate.

Philippines settings
• Republic Act No. 9512 on National Environmental Awareness and Education Act,
2008.
This Act provides for the promotion of environmental awareness through
environmental education which shall encompass environmental concepts and
principles, environmental laws, the state of international and local environment,
local environmental best practices, the threats of environmental degradation and
its impact on human well-being, the responsibility of the citizenry to the
environment and the value of conservation, protection and rehabilitation of
natural resources and the environment.

SUMMARY

Key Concepts
• Climate change is a wide array of global phenomena that resulted from the
disruption of the natural climate system of a particular part of the planet.
• Climate change is caused by natural factors such as volcanic activities and solar
variations. Anthropogenic activities like deforestation, industrial processes,
burning of fossil fuels and other human activities intensify the effect of global
warming as these factors contribute to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in
the atmosphere.
 • Due to rapid changes, this phenomenon highly affects the biological functioning
of several organisms, ecological displacements of species are also triggered, the
geographical aspects are also affected due to catastrophic and extreme
phenomena even sociological and geopolitical facets are put into pressure as these
challenges the environment where everyone depend their livelihood and day to
day bread and butter.

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