Module 5

• Climate


  Long-term average weather pattern in one place

  
• Weather


  Conditions at one particular time and place, including temperature and rainfall
• Climate is influenced by slow changes in the ocean, the land, the orbit of the Earth about the sun, and the energy output of the sun

  
• Climate is fundamentally controlled by the balance of energy of the Earth and its atmosphere

  
• Weather can change very rapidly from day to day, and from year to year
• Weather changes involve shifts in temperatures, precipitation, winds, and clouds
• 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

  
• Climate system


  An interactive system consisting of five major components: the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the cryosphere, the land surface, and the biosphere, forced or influenced by various external forcing mechanisms, the most important of which is the Sun

  
• Any change, whether natural or anthropogenic, in the components of the climate system and their interactions, or in the external forcing, may result in climate variations

  
• Climate change mechanisms


  1. Changing the global average temperature of the earth through the alteration of solar energy's output

  2. Alteration of the earth's brightness or albedo effect

  3. Alteration of the global atmospheric composition

  
• Albedo


  The percent of reflected sunlight
• Greenhouse effect


  The trapping of heat in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases
• Greenhouse gases


  • Water vapor
  • Clouds
  • Carbon dioxide (CO2)
  • Methane (CH4)
  • Nitrous oxide (N2O)
  • Halocarbons

  
• By burning fossil fuels due to industrialization and to sustain our modern lifestyle, the level of greenhouse gases increase rapidly
• Anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gases

  • Worldwide deforestation
  • Increasing industrial activity
  • Motor vehicle emission
  • Waste management practices
• Main human sources of greenhouse gases

  • Energy generation and industrial processes
  • Transportation
  • Land-use and agriculture
• Other man-made greenhouse gases

  • Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
  • Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
  • Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)

  
• Global average surface temperature increased by 0.74°C (1906-2005) which is higher than the Third Assessment Report (TAR) of 0.6°C (1901-2000)

  
• Global average sea level rose at an average rate of 1.8 mm per year over 1961 to 2003 or a total of 0.17m for the 21st century

  
• There are projected increases from 1.4°C to 5.8°C during the 21st century leading to an increase in the sea level from 18-59 cm by 2100
• In the Philippines, under the A1B scenario, mean annual temperatures are expected to rise by about 0.9°C to 1.2°C for 2020 and 1.7°C to 2.2°C by 2050
• The increase in temperature that will be realized by 2100 will depend on several factors including population growth, amount and manner of developments, adoption of environmentally clean technologies, and measures/strategies to be put in place by the global community
• Impacts of climate change

  • Water resources
  • Agriculture
  • Forests/Biodiversity
  • Coastal areas
  • Human health
  • Industry and energy
• 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
• Increased ocean acidity can negatively affect marine life, causing organisms' shells and skeletons made from calcium carbonate to dissolve
• In the northern parts of the country; less rainfall/drought and water scarcities in provinces along and below the equator
• Impacts of Climate Change

  Reduce global food supplies and contribute to higher food prices
• Agriculture and Food Security

  • For every 1°C increase in temperature, rice yields will decrease by 10%-15% (IRRI)
  • 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 are needed (IRRI)
• Potential impacts on health due to sea level rise

  • Death and injury due to flooding
  • Reduced availability of freshwater due to saltwater intrusion
• Impacts of Climate Change

  Biodiversity (Including Forests and Wildlife)
• Impacts on Biodiversity


  • 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
• Learning Outcomes


  • Explain the vulnerability of the Philippines to the impacts of climate change
  • List mitigation and adaptation strategies in facing climate change
  • Name the significant milestones in the Philippines' response to addressing 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
• Philippine Vulnerability to Climate Change

  • Highly susceptible to floodings and inundations
  • Low agricultural productivity - rice production in the Philippines will decline by as much as 75%
  • Threaten food security - a 1 degree increase in temperature in the tropics will cause agricultural yield decline by as much as 10%
  • 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
• Other extreme weather/climate events like intense rains have been seen to be more frequent
• Adaptation


  Increase the resilience and coping capacity of the sector with the current and future changes
• Mitigation


  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
• Adaptation Measures/Strategies


  • Agriculture: Adjustment of planning dates and crop variety; crop relocation; improved land management, e.g. erosion control and soil protection through tree planting
  • Water: Expanded rainwater harvesting; water storage and conservation techniques; water re-use; desalination; water-use and irrigation efficiency
  • Human Health: Heat-health action plans; emergency medical services; improved climate-sensitive disease surveillance and control; safe water and improved sanitation
  • Infrastructure/Settlement: Relocation; seawalls and storm surge barriers; dune reinforcement; land acquisition and creation of marshlands/wetlands as buffer against sea level rise and flooding; protection of existing natural barriers
• Mitigation Measures/Strategies


  • Energy Supply: Improved supply and distribution efficiency; fuel switching from coal to gas, renewable heat and power (hydropower, solar, wind, geothermal and bioenergy); combined heat and power; early applications of Carbon Dioxide Capture (e.g. storage of removed 𝐶𝑂2 from natural gas)
  • Transport: More fuel efficient vehicles; hybrid vehicles; cleaner diesel vehicles; biofuels; non-motorised transport (cycling, walking); land use and transport planning
  • Buildings: Efficient lighting and daylighting; more efficient electrical appliances and heating and cooling devices; improved cook stoves, improved insulation; passive and active solar design for heating and cooling; alternative refrigeration fluids, recovery and recycling of fluorinated gases
• What we can do

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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