Climate Change & Global Risks

• Climate change is a planetary emergency

Questions to Answer

• Where are we in the fight against climate change?
• Which path are we on?
• What steps can still be taken?

Global Risks

• A global risk is an uncertain event that can negatively affect multiple countries or industries within 10 years
• Global risks include economic, societal, environmental, technological, and geopolitical factors

2023 Global Risks Report

• Top global risks include:
  • Failure to Mitigate Climate Change
  • Failure of Climate-Change Adaptation
  • Natural Disasters and Extreme Weather Events
  • Biodiversity Loss and Ecosystems Collapse
  • Erosion of Social Cohesion and Societal Polarization
  • Widespread Cybercrime and Cyber Insecurity

Environmental Performance Index (Philippines)

• 2010: 65.7 (50th out of 163)
• 2014: 44.02 (114th out of 178)
• 2016: 73.7 (66th out of 180)
• 2018: 57.65 (82nd out of 180)
• 2020: 38.4 (111th out of 180)
• 2022: 158th out of 180

Climate Change Definition

• Climate change involves alterations in average temperatures and weather patterns over extended periods

Evidence of Climate Change

• Since 1880, scientists have tracked global surface temperatures using thermometers

Problems Caused by Climate Change

• Rapid climate change prevents adaptation and threatens species and biodiversity survival
• Altered weather patterns lead to more frequent extreme weather events
• Increased global temperatures correlate with more reported natural disasters
• Rising temperatures cause sea levels to increase

Rising Sea Levels

• Human-caused global warming results in rising sea levels
• Sea level rise is at rates unprecedented in the last 2,500 years
• Mechanisms include water added from melting ice and the expansion of seawater as it warms

Case of Kiribati

• Kiribati is expected to be significantly impacted by rising sea levels

Impacts of Reduced Sea Ice

• Reduction in sea ice causes more ocean warming
• Reduction in sea ice further reduces sea ice
• Ice reflects 80% of sunlight, keeping polar regions cool

State of Global Climate 2023

• 2023 was the warmest year on record, 1.45 ± 0.12 °C above pre-industrial levels
• Record high concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide were observed in 2022
• Ocean heat content reached its highest in the 65-year observational record
• Global mean sea level reached a record high
• Sea-level rise has more than doubled in the past 10 years (2014-2023) compared to 1993-2002
• Reference glaciers experienced the largest ice loss on record (1950-2023)
• Glaciers in Switzerland lost about 10% of their volume in the past two years
• Extreme weather led to severe socioeconomic impacts
• Food security, population displacement, and impacts on vulnerable populations are of mounting concern

Paris Agreement

• Adopted in Paris in 2015 by 196 parties, enforced November 4, 2016
• Aims to keep global average temperature increase well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels
• Pursues efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C
• Greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 and decline 43% by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5°C

Differences with a 0.5°C Increase

• An increase of even 0.5°C can significantly worsen coral bleaching and species loss
• Droughts and rising sea levels will become more impactful

Causes of Climate Change

• Natural processes and human activities increase greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere
• Burning fossil fuels
• Deforestation
• Reduction of biodiversity

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• Major economies vary distinctly in greenhouse gas emissions from 2000-2040

Affected Populations

• Everyone will be affected by climate change, but some people are currently more affected
• Wealthy countries are responsible for greenhouse gas emissions
• Wealthy countries are more able to protect themselves from the effects of climate change
• Poor countries are less able to adapt to climate change and develop

Climate Change in the Philippines

• The Philippines is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to its archipelagic nature and location
• The Philippines ranks highest in vulnerability to tropical cyclones
• The Philippines ranks third in terms of people exposed to seasonal tropical cyclone

Likely Impacts of Climate Change include:

• Water resources: water stress and flooding
• Forestry: changes in forest ecosystems and forest fires
• Agriculture: reduced crop yield and outbreaks of pests/diseases
• Coastal resources: continued temperature increases and accelerated sea level rise
• Human health: outbreaks of water-based and vector-borne diseases

Climate Change and Justice

• Social justice: fairness within a society including access to basic needs
• Climate justice: climate crisis viewed from a social justice perspective
• Climate justice includes solutions protecting disadvantaged groups
• Climate issue solutions require addressing social justice issues like poverty

Addressing Climate Change

• Governments: create regulations for greenhouse gas emission reductions
• Businesses: improve sustainability of processes
• Individuals: reduce their carbon footprint and using their voices

Sustainable Development

• Sustainable development meets present needs without compromising future generations

2030 Agenda

• The 2030 agenda includes 17 sustainable development goals

Addressing Climate Change

• Mitigation: Addressing the root cause of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Adaptation: Managing the impacts of climate change

Youth Role in Climate Action

• Comprehensive approaches
• Community engagement
• Mobilizing public will
• Creativity and fun
• Pursuing win-win solutions

Environmental Leadership

• Environmental awareness is the depth of information and capabilities
• Personal conduct knowledge includes awareness and personal action contributing to environmental improvements
• Environmental literacy is familiarity of a subject with little understanding of implications

Anatomy of a Leader

• Strong motivation
• Expertise
• Leadership

Simple Acts

• Proper waste management can reduce inorganic and organic waste
• Reduces emissions, increases storage carbon in trees