EnviSci Practice Test

• Types of Natural Resources


  • Renewable resources
  • Nonrenewable resources
• Renewable resources


  Natural resources that can be replaced/replenished in a short period of time
• Nonrenewable resources


  Natural resources that cannot be replaced/replenished easily, can take thousands or millions of years to replace
• Energy Sources


  Anything that can be used as a source of energy
• Classification of Energy Sources


  • Renewable Energy
  • Nonrenewable Energy
• Renewable Energy


  Natural resource that can replenish itself, can be used repeatedly and does not run out because it is naturally-replaced, has a never-ending supply
• Nonrenewable Energy


  Natural resource that cannot be replenished and can run out eventually, has limited supply, cannot be readily replaced by natural means
• Nonrenewable Energy Examples

  • Fossil fuels (coal, crude oil, natural gas)
  • Nuclear energy (uranium)
• Renewable Energy Sources in the Philippines

  • Hydroelectric Power
  • Geothermal Energy
  • Solar Power
  • Wind Energy
  • Biomass Energy
• Hydroelectric Power


  • Harness power of water in motion to generate electricity, The Philippines use two ways: dam storage/poundage and run-of-river
• Geothermal Energy


  • Heat within the earth, renewable energy source because heat is continuously produced inside the earth, two ways of extracting: flash steam and binary cycle
• Solar Power


  • Source of energy in the Philippines through industrial-sized photovoltaic plants, uses light from the sun
• Wind Energy


  • Moving air which generates electricity through wind turbines that provide mechanical energy through mechanical power
• Biomass Energy


  • Energy from organic materials, includes dead trees, leftover crops, bark, sawdust, rubbish, corn stalk and animal manute, combusted to boil water to supply steam which drives a generator
• Nonrenewable Energy Sources in the Philippines


  • Fossil Fuel
  • Nuclear Energy
• Fossil Fuel


  • Made from decomposing plants and animals, found in Earth's crust, contains carbon and hydrogen for energy, coal, oil and gas are major types
• Nuclear Energy


  • Generated using radioactive elements such as uranium and plutonium, when atoms are loaded into long rods and placed in reactors, atoms split, generating huge amounts of energy
• History of energy resource exploitation started to emerge in the 19th century as natural resource extraction developed, and during the 20th century, energy consumption rapidly increases
• Today, about 80% of the world's energy consumption is sustained by the extraction of fossil fuels which is oil, coal and gas
• Subsoil minerals also were exploited such as precious metals mainly used in production of industrial commodities
• Effects of Exploitation of Energy Resources

  • Depletion of Fossil Fuels
  • Greenhouse Gas Increased and Thermal Pollution
  • Water and Material Pollution
  • Radiation Pollution
  • Health Hazards
• Depletion of Fossil Fuels


  Like oil, coal and natural gasses and other nonrenewable energy resources, finite, not infinite, the fast growing population and increasing demand and rise in technology contribute to consumption
• Greenhouse Gas Increased and Thermal Pollution

  All fuels and power consumed turn to heat, cause an increase in the temperature of the ecosystem, causes ill effects on the organisms, examples include combustion of fossil fuels, emission from transportation and other results of global warming
• Water and Material Pollution


  During consumption, the material substance is transformed into other substances like ashes, smoke and other gaseous products which are dumped into the environment as waste products, examples are sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide
• Radiation Pollution


  Results from utilization of nuclear energy, if improperly disposed of, they cause contamination, radiation causes cancer and abnormalities
• Health Hazards


  The most dangerous effects are mutagenic effects or that causes abnormal growths, carcinogenic effects or cancer causing, and teratogenic effects causing birth defects
• Increased use of primary resources over recent decades due to growing global population, economic improvement, and changing lifestyle habits in high-income and developing countries
• United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development


  A sub-organization of the United Nations (UN) that aims to unite countries in pursuit of sustainable development, Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs are the blueprint for achieving a better and more sustainable future for all
• Conservation


  Key factor in solving the energy crisis, every individual's action require little sacrifice when taken collectively can save a lot of energy, advantages include reduction of cost of production, reduction of inflation, saving on consumers' money, slow depletion of nonrenewable fossil fuels, reduction of environmental pollution, land disposal, and water disposal, economic savings from energy conservation can be done by the efficiency of machines and appliances; reduces energy demand
• Cogeneration


  Process in which waste heat from industrial processes is captured and used for useful purposes, consumption of energy resources depletes the supply of energy, building sustainable energy systems by harnessing our indigenous sources of energy to name a few alternative energy resources that meet the increasing demand of energy needs
• Sustainability


  Method of harvesting or using a resources so that the resource will not be depleted or permanently damaged
• Importance of Environmental Laws: Huge part in protecting humans, animals, resources, order to lessen the impact, works to protect land air, water and soil, negligence of these laws result in punishments such as fines, community service and jail time, working to sustain the natural world for benefit and its people
• Environmental Laws and Policies center in idea of environmental pollution
• Environmental Laws and Policies in the Philippines

  • Republic Act 8749: Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
  • Republic Act 9275: Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004
  • Republic Act 6969: Philippine Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990
  • Republic Act 9003: Philippine Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000
  • Republic Act 9512: National Environment Awareness and Education Act of 2008
  • Republic Act 9729: Climate Change Act of 2009
• Republic Act 8749: Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999


  The law aims to achieve and maintain clear air that meets the National Air Quality guideline values for criteria pollutants, throughout the Philippines, Penalty: Administrative fines, ranging from PhP 10,000 to PhP 200,000 per day for each violation, Imprisonment 6 months to 6 years, Criminal charges
• Republic Act 9275: Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004


  This law aims to protect the country's water bodies from pollutants from land-based sources such as industries and commercial establishments, agriculture and community/household activities, prevent and minimize pollution through a multi-sectoral and participatory approach involving all stakeholders, Penalty: Administrative fines, ranging from PhP 10,000 to PhP 200,000 per day for each violation, Imprisonment 6 months to 6 years, Criminal charges
• Republic Act 6969: Philippine Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990


  This law aims to regulate, restrict or prohibit the importation, manufacture, processing, sale, distribution, use and disposal of chemical substances and mixtures that present unreasonable risk to human health, prohibits the entry, even transit, of hazardous and nuclear waste and their disposal into the Philippine territorial limits, Penalty: Individuals or entities found violating the provision of the act may be subject to administrative fines PhP 10,000 TO PhP 1,000,000 per day for each violation
• Republic Act 9003: Philippine Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000


  This law aims to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program that shall ensure the protection of public health and environment, ensures proper segregation, collection, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through formulation and adaptation of co-waste products, Penalty: Administrative fines, ranging from PhP 10,000 to PhP 200,000 per day for each violation, Imprisonment 6 months to 6 years, Criminal charges
• Republic Act 9512: National Environment Awareness and Education Act of 2008


  This Act provides for the promotion of environmental awareness through environmental education which shall encompass environmental concepts and principles, laws and state of international and local environment, threats of environmental degradation and its impact on human well-being, the responsibility of the citizenry and the value of conservation, protection and rehabilitation of it, Penalty: Administrative fines ranging from PhP 1,000 to PhP 100,000 depending on the gravity and capacity; community service
• Republic Act 9729: Climate Change Act of 2009


  This Act acknowledges the Philippines' vulnerability to climate change and the need for appropriate adaptation, it creates a comprehensive framework for systematically integrating the concept of climate change, disaster risk reduction, policy formulation, development plans, poverty reduction, and other development tools, Penalty: Individuals, corporations, partners or associations found violating any provision may be subject to administrative fines from PhP 100,00 to PhP 500,000 depending on gravity and capacity