Climate Change Overview

Climate Change Overview

• Weather refers to short-term atmospheric changes, while climate is the long-term weather pattern of a region.
• Climate change results from human activities over decades, impacting environmental conditions globally.
• Global warming specifically addresses the long-term increase in Earth's temperature due to human actions.
• Key contributors to global warming include fossil fuel combustion, air pollution, and chemical use, increasing greenhouse gas levels.

Drivers and Effects of Climate Change

• Variations observed since the early 20th century are mainly driven by human activities, especially fossil fuel combustion.
• Natural processes also contribute, such as El Niño and La Niña.
• Effects include rising sea levels, erratic weather patterns, and droughts.
• Notable indicators of climate change are increasing temperatures, loss of polar ice, and heightened severity of weather disturbances.

Global Impact and Response

• Climate change threatens public health, migration, peace, and food security, requiring global cooperative efforts to alleviate its impacts.
• Failing to address climate change could hinder development efforts, complicating progress.
• Environmental protection initiatives, like reducing greenhouse gas emissions, are critical for climate mitigation.

Greenhouse Effect

• The greenhouse effect is a natural warming process facilitated by gases such as methane, CO2, and nitrous oxide.
• Human activities, like fossil fuel burning and agriculture, have intensified this effect, exacerbating global warming.

Environmental Issues in the Philippines

• Environmental problems stem from human actions, including improper waste disposal, pollution, and deforestation.
• Pollution types include:
  • Air pollution from industrial emissions and fossil fuel combustion contributes to global warming and deteriorates air quality.
  • Water pollution caused by heavy metals, plastic waste, and urbanization, impacting local ecosystems severely.
  • Soil pollution from industrial waste disposal and non-sustainable mining affects land quality and agricultural productivity.

Soil and Deforestation Challenges

• Soil degradation arises from erosion, pollution, and land conversion, significantly impacting agriculture-dependent communities.
• The Philippines has one of the highest rates of deforestation, mostly due to illegal logging and land conversion for development.

Overpopulation and Urban Migration Issues

• Overpopulation leads to resource scarcity, increased fuel consumption, and biodiversity loss.
• Urban migration, driven by the search for jobs and services, results in environmental challenges like land degradation and pollution.

Waste Management and Pollution

• Global waste management crises are exacerbated by overconsumption and the proliferation of plastics.
• The Philippines produces 2.7 metric tons of plastic waste annually, prompting the government to ban certain single-use plastics to mitigate waste issues.