Environmental Protection and Management Study Guide PDF

BATAAN BATAAN HEROES HEROES COLLEGE COLLEGE Study Guide ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I RIC ERNEST C. ESTRELLA General Education De...

BATAAN BATAAN HEROES HEROES COLLEGE COLLEGE Study Guide ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I RIC ERNEST C. ESTRELLA General Education Department NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I/STUDY GUIDE 1 RIC ERNEST CORDOVA-ESTRELLAPage NATIONAL 0 SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I/STUDY GUIDE 1 RIC ERNEST CORDOVA-ESTRELLA Page  BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE Study Guide: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT Module Description This module discusses the present environmental conditions, the roles of institutions, communities and individuals in EPM, best practices and lifestyle choices that contribute to EPM. Objectives of the Module: At the end of this module the students should be able to: 1. Recognize the present environmental conditions and challenges in both local and global context. 2. Discuss the roles of institutions, communities and individuals in EPM to achieve balance in serving humanity and protecting the environment. 3. Apply best practices and lifestyle choices that contribute to environmental protection and preservation. Diagnostic Activity 4 Pics 1 Word Guess the jumbled letters and tell something that you know about it. 1. EIORENNNMVT 2. LOGLAB GANWMRI NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I/STUDY GUIDE RIC ERNEST CORDOVA-ESTRELLA Page 2  BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE 3. TLAIMEC ECGNAH 4. IOTMINITGA 5. ANATODPATI Environment - the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors that act upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determine its form and survival. - the surrounding conditions and elements through which a living thing interacts with. - A related term “environ” is defined as “to surround” or “to enclose”. Environmental Perspectives - different perspectives of people on the environment play a great role in how they act towards it. - have traditionally been divided into four general categories: stewardship, imperialism, romanticism and utilitarianism. NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I/STUDY GUIDE RIC ERNEST CORDOVA-ESTRELLA Page 3  BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE Stewardship - humans hold a certain privilege and responsibility in relation to their environment, as stewards of nature. - declares that it is our duty as human beings to look after all living things and to treat them with respect. - traditional stewards are often found to oppose science and technology, because they involved controlling nature. Imperialism - imperialists referred to genesis to support the more dominant view that humans have a God-given right to “control nature”. - whilst stewards feel that a sacred bond exists between themselves, nature and God, imperialists feel that nature and God are separate. - They believe that by subduing the Earth and controlling nature, God would give them respect. Romanticism - values the environment for its worth to humans. - for Romantics, nature is most beautiful when it is in its “purest state”, unaffected by humans. Utilitarian or Hedonist - Here, the most important things in life are happiness and contentment and “nothing matters which cannot appreciate these feelings”. - the environment performs fundamental roles, such as the provision of the food chain and the shaping of rich and diverse landscapes, it is only for these reasons that a utilitarian would want to protect and conserve the environment. Contemporary Environmental Issues The earth’s climate is changing. Global warming is real. Here are the facts:  Earth’s temperature has risen by 0.14° F (0.08° C) per decade since 1880, and the rate of warming over the past 40 years is more than twice that: 0.32° F (0.18° C) per decade since 1981. NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I/STUDY GUIDE RIC ERNEST CORDOVA-ESTRELLA Page 4  BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE  2020 was the second-warmest year on record based on NOAA’s temperature data, and land areas were record warm.  Averaged across land and ocean, the 2020 surface temperature was 1.76° F (0.98° Celsius) warmer than the twentieth-century average of 57.0°F (13.9°C) and 2.14˚F (1.19˚C) warmer than the pre-industrial period (1880-1900).  Despite a late-year La Niña event that cooled a wide swath of the tropical Pacific Ocean, 2020 came just 0.04˚ Fahrenheit (0.02˚Celsius) shy of tying 2016 for warmest year on record.  The 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 2005.  From 1900 to 1980 a new temperature record was set on average every 13.5 years; from 1981–2019, a new record was set every 3 years. NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I/STUDY GUIDE RIC ERNEST CORDOVA-ESTRELLA Page 5  BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE Temperature records from NOAA, NASA, and the University of East Anglia all show an increase from the start of the 20th-century through 2019. The year 2019 counted among the top three warmest years on record. Background image from NOAA DISCOVR/EPIC. Graph by NOAA Climate.gov based on data from the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society's State of the Climate 2019. What is the Greenhouse Effect? - rise in temperature on Earth as certain gases in the atmosphere trap energy. - is when the Sun’s rays penetrate the atmosphere, but when that heat is reflected off the surface cannot escape back into space. Source: https://medialibrary.climatecentral.org/resources/the-greenhouse-effect What is Climate Change? - ‘Climate change’ refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified by changes in the mean and/or the variability of properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. - Global warming ang climate change are caused primarily by increases in “greenhouse” gases such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2). NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I/STUDY GUIDE RIC ERNEST CORDOVA-ESTRELLA Page 6  BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE - These greenhouse gasses are carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, water vapor, methane, and nitrous oxide. What is Global Warming? - refer to an increase in average global temperatures. - is the long-term warming of the planet’s overall temperature. - its pace has significantly increased in the last hundred years due to the burning of fossil fuels. - Global warming has presented another issue called climate change. Impacts of Global Warming Rapid changes in the temperature - There is an overall warming of the Earth’s climate. However, some regions may experience cooling, or wetter weather, while the temperature of the planet on average is on rise. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the 1990s was the warmest decade and the 1900s was the warmest century during the last 1,000 years. However, it is the rapid pace at which the temperature will rise that will result in many negative impacts to humans and the environment and this is why there is such a world-wide concern. Extreme Weather Patterns - Most scientists believe that the warming of the climate will lead to more extreme weather patterns such as more hurricanes and drought; longer spells of dry heat or intense rain (depending on where one is in the world). Scientists have pointed out that Northern Europe could be severely affected with colder weather if climate change continues, as the arctic begins to melt and send fresher waters further south. It would effectively cut off the Gulf Stream that brings warmth from the Gulf of Mexico, keeping countries such as Britain warmer than expected. In South Asia, the Himalayan glaciers could retreat causing water scarcity in the long run. NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I/STUDY GUIDE RIC ERNEST CORDOVA-ESTRELLA Page 7  BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE Super-typhoons - James McCarthy, a professor at Harvard University notes that the world’s oceans are approaching 27° C or warmer during the summer. This increases the chance of major storms. When water reaches such temperatures, more of it evaporates, priming hurricane or cyclone formation. Once born, a hurricane needs only warm water to build and maintain its strength and intensity.11 As emissions of greenhouse gases continue to trap more and more of the sun’s energy, that energy has to be dissipated, resulting in stronger storms, more intense precipitation and higher winds. Impacts on Ecosystems - Climate is an integral part of ecosystems and organisms have adapted to their regional climate over time. Climate change is a factor that has the potential to alter ecosystems and the many resources and services they provide to each other and to society. Human societies depend on ecosystems for the natural, cultural, spiritual, recreational and aesthetic resources they provide.13 - The IPCC 2007 Report has noted that if greenhouse gas emissions and other changes continue at or above current rates, by 2100 ecosystems will be exposed to atmospheric CO2 levels substantially higher than in the past 650,000 years, and global temperatures at least among the highest as those experienced in the past 740,000 years. This will alter the structure, reduce biodiversity and disturb the functioning of most ecosystems. Rising Sea Levels - Water expands when heated, and sea levels are expected to rise due to climate change. Rising sea levels will also result as the polar caps begin to melt. Rising sea levels is already affecting many small islands. - The WorldWatch Institute reports that “the Earth’s ice cover is melting in more places and at higher rates than at any time since record keeping began”. 14 Rising sea levels will impact many coastlines, and a large mass of humanity lives near the coasts or by major rivers. Increase in Pests and Disease - According to Epstein, a warming climate, compounded by widespread ecological changes, may be stimulating wide-scale changes in disease patterns. His study suggests that climate change could have an impact on health in three major ways, by: (a) creating conditions conducive to outbreaks of infectious diseases, NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I/STUDY GUIDE RIC ERNEST CORDOVA-ESTRELLA Page 8  BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE (b) increasing the potential for transmissions of vector-borne diseases and the exposure of millions of people to new diseases and health risks, (c) and hindering the future control of disease. ‘There are indications, he notes, ‘that this disturbing change has already begun. Failing Agricultural Output; Increase in World Hunger - Recent studies indicate that increased frequency of heat stress, droughts and floods negatively affect crop yields and livestock. Changes in climate also influence the risks of fires, pest and pathogen outbreak, negatively affecting production of food, fiber and forestry. 17 - The United Nations had issued the warning in 2005 that, “One in six countries in the world face food shortages this year because of severe droughts that could become semi-permanent under climate change.” Chaos and war - A study made by the CNA Corporation which conducts in-depth research and analysis on a wide range of issues warns of a future world in turmoil created by climate change. - Among its findings is the assertion that ‘extreme weather events, drought, flooding, sea level rise, retreating glaciers, habitat shifts, and the increased spread of life-threatening diseases’ will potentially create chaos. It continues: “On the simplest level, it has the potential to create sustained natural and humanitarian disasters on a scale far beyond those we see today.” Environmental Situation in the Philippines - The Philippines also suffers major human-caused environmental degradation aggravated by a high annual population growth rate, including loss of agricultural lands, deforestation, soil erosion, air and water pollution, improper disposal of solid and toxic wastes, loss of coral reefs, mismanagement and abuse of coastal resources, and overfishing. - It is suffering from degradation of the natural environment. It has fifty major rivers now polluted due to abuse and neglect. Approximately two-thirds of the country's original mangroves have been lost. - It is also looming with garbage problems despite the passage of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act or the Republic Act (RA) 9003. NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I/STUDY GUIDE RIC ERNEST CORDOVA-ESTRELLA Page 9  BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE Ecological Solid Waste Management [R.A. 9003] Due to the serious environmental effects of waste mismanagement, this law was passed. It provides the necessary policy framework, institutional mechanisms and mandate to the local government unites (LGUs) to achieve 25% waste reduction through establishing an integrated solid waste management plans based on 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycling). Clean Air Act [R.A. 8749] As the cities and industries around the country increase in number, however, clean air has become polluted that it was necessary for the Philippine government to pass a law that would ensure safe air for Filipinos to breathe in. The passage of the Philippine Clean Air Act (RA 8749) on June 23, 1999, provides for a comprehensive air pollution control policy, as it outlines the government’s measures to reduce air pollution by including environmental protection activities into its development plans. It has adopted the “polluters pay principle” and other market-based instruments to promote self-regulation among the population. Emission standards are set for all motor vehicles and had issued pollutant limitations among industries. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources through its Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) is leading the strict implementation of the Clean Air Act. Clean Water Act [R.A. 9275] The program is implemented based on the established environmental laws specifically RA 9275, the Philippine Clean Water Act (CWA) that provides for a comprehensive strategy to address the degradation of our waterbodies. It mandates the Bureau to formulate and implement policies and strengthen partnerships with stakeholders to improve water quality in all parts of the country. It encourages pollution prevention and waste minimization at source and provides for the use of economic incentives and public disclosure to ensure compliance. NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I/STUDY GUIDE RIC ERNEST CORDOVA-ESTRELLA Page 10  BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE The Corporate Globalization Response to Climate Change Kyoto Protocol - operationalizes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by committing industrialized countries and economies in transition to limit and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions in accordance with agreed individual targets. - During the first commitment period, 37 industrialized countries and economies in transition and the European Community committed to reduce GHG emissions to an average of five percent against 1990 levels. During the second commitment period, Parties committed to reduce GHG emissions by at least 18 percent below 1990 levels in the eight-year period from 2013 to 2020; however, the composition of Parties in the second commitment period is different from the first. Three Flexible Mechanisms a) Emissions Trading - This so-called carbon market – so named because carbon dioxide is the most widely produced GHG, and because emissions of other GHGs will be recorded and counted in terms of their “carbon dioxide equivalents” – is both flexible and realistic. Countries not meeting their commitments will be able to “buy” compliance but the price may be steep. It is supposed that the higher the cost, the more pressure on countries to use energy more efficiently and to research and promote the development of alternative sources of energy that have low or no emissions. b) Joint Implementation - is a program under the Kyoto Protocol that allows industrialized countries to meet part of their required cuts in GHG emissions by paying for projects that reduce emissions in other non-industrialized countries. In practice, this could mean facilities built in the countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union – the so- called “transition economies” – paid for by Western European and North American countries. The sponsoring governments will receive credits that may be applied to their emissions targets; the recipient nations will gain foreign investment and advanced technology but not credit toward meeting their own emissions caps; they will have to do that themselves. c) Clean Development Mechanism - The Protocol provides a system for financing emissions-reducing or emissions-avoiding projects in developing nations. Industrialized countries pay for projects that cut or avoid emissions in poorer nations, and are awarded NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I/STUDY GUIDE RIC ERNEST CORDOVA-ESTRELLA Page 11  BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE credits that can be applied to meeting their own emissions targets. The recipient countries benefit from free infusions of advanced that allow their factories or electrical generating plants to operate more efficiently and hence at lower costs and higher profits. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) One of the three Rio Conventions, the UNFCCC's ultimate objective is to achieve the stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous interference with the climate system. When the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was formulated and then signed and ratified in 1992 by most of the world’s countries (including the United States and other nations who would later back out of the subsequent Kyoto Protocol), this principle was acknowledged. The principle recognized that:  The largest share of historical and current global emissions of greenhouse gases has originated in developed countries;  Per capita emissions in developing countries are still relatively low;  The share of global emissions originating in developing countries will grow to meet their social and development needs. - This means that it would be unfair to expect the developing countries to make emissions reductions especially because their development and consumption is for basic needs and for development to achieve those needs while for the rich, it has moved on to luxury consumption and life styles. - Furthermore, developing countries too were to reduce emissions ultimately, but in a different way: the rich were to help provide means for the developing world to transition to cleaner technologies while developing. - And the extent to which developing country Parties will effectively implement their commitments under the Convention will depend on the effective implementation by developed country Parties of their commitments under the Convention related to financial resources and transfer of NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I/STUDY GUIDE RIC ERNEST CORDOVA-ESTRELLA Page 12  BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE technology and will take fully into account that economic and social development and poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities of the developing country Parties. People’s Protocol on Climate Change - a global campaign that aims to provide a venue for the people and their grassroots organizations, especially from the South – who are the worst-affected and yet are the least empowered to demand mitigation by Northern countries and to adapt to climate change - to participate in the process of drawing up a post-2012 climate change framework. - The People’s Protocol on Climate Change is a framework agreement independently agreed upon by people’s movements and their supporters both outside and inside governments to address in a comprehensive way the need for comprehensive and effective measures to mitigate climate change independently and through government action, as well as measures for effective adaptation and defense of people’s rights and interests in the face of challenges brought about by climate change especially in the developing countries. Basic Values and Principles Social Justice and Human Rights - Climate change is not merely an environmental but a social justice issue as it is the result of gross inequality exemplified by colonialism and perpetuates and enhances this gross inequality in terms of vulnerability, capacity to adapt and respond. Sovereignty - The genuine, longlasting response to climate change is through the assertion of people’s sovereignty to achieve effective government and societal response, including community stewardship of natural resources and conservation. Respect for the environment - The needs of the people and the planet must take precedence over the pursuit of super profits. The UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) cites two fundamental response strategies to climate change: mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation - seeks to limit climate change by reducing the emissions of GHG (greenhouse gases). - The goal of mitigation is to avoid significant human interference with the climate system, and “stabilize greenhouse gas levels in a timeframe sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I/STUDY GUIDE RIC ERNEST CORDOVA-ESTRELLA Page 13  BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE to climate change, ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner” (from the 2014 report on Mitigation of Climate Change from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, page 4). Adaptation - aims to alleviate the adverse impacts through a wide range of actions. - involves adjusting to actual or expected future climate. - The goal is to reduce our vulnerability to the harmful effects of climate change (like sea-level encroachment, more intense extreme weather events or food insecurity). Best Practices in Environmental Protection Diesel Emission Reduction Strategies Use clean diesel practices for all on-road and off-road vehicles and equipment. Ex. Use cleaner fuels, such as ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULDS), biodiesel, liquid petroleum gas, or compressed natural gas. Smart Energy Practices Use smart energy practices during project design, construction and operation. Ex. Purchase renewable energy from local utilities. Green Remediation Use green remediation practices to reduce the environmental footprint of conducting cleanups of contaminant releases. Ex. Use renewable energy sources and technologies Green Building/Construction Practices Use green construction and building practices in the planning, design and construction of infrastructure, road, building and other construction and building projects. Ex. Reuse industrial materials in construction projects, such as in concrete Water Management Use water conservation and green storm water management practices in building and landscape design, site redevelopment planning, and in cleanup strategies. Ex. Use Water-Smart Landscaping and Irrigation. NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I/STUDY GUIDE RIC ERNEST CORDOVA-ESTRELLA Page 14  BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Purchase certain products with recycled content Ex. Purchase materials and supplies with recycled content, such as building and construction materials, office supplies, and paper products. References Biology Online. (n.d.). Environment Definition. Retrieved from Biology Online: https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/environment Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (2019, January 11). Intensified Environmental Protection: Clean Water. Retrieved from Department of Environment and Natural Resources: https://www.denr.gov.ph/index.php/priority-programs/clean-water-program Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (2020, January 22). Clean Air: Essential to Healthy Living and Sustainable Environment. Retrieved from Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 6 Western Visayas: https://r6.denr.gov.ph/index.php/news-events/press- releases/1311-clean-air-essential-to-healthy-living-and-sustainable-environment Earth Science Communication Team. (2021, October 20). Responding to Climate Change. Retrieved from NASA Global Climate Change Vital Signs of the Planet: https://climate.nasa.gov/solutions/adaptation-mitigation/ Gamaralalage, P. D., Canete, A. L., & Nagaishi, M. (2013, March 21). Policy Implementation of the Republic Act (RA) 9003 in the Philippines: A Case Study of Cebu City. Retrieved from Institute for Global Environmental Strategies: https://www.iges.or.jp/en/pub/policy-implementation- republic-act-ra-9003/en IBON International. (2008). IBON Primer on Climate Change. Quezon City, Philippines: IBON International. Lindsey, R., & Dahlman, L. (2021, August 12). Climate Change: Global Temperature. Retrieved from Climate.gov: https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change- global-temperature?fbclid=IwAR1yaVYveIHHZn1ExRU6Yegc7t- S1098tGcMkc_RcO1uHJemWIXwgzLu-7M LinusWealth. (2018, August 17). Environmental Perspectives. Retrieved from Sustainable Environment: https://www.sustainable- environment.org.uk/Earth/Environmental_Perspectives.php?fbclid=IwAR0v_MUlvzUlqEOHxv MOiYQHN06jn5_JXYXRAm_6DGQ-qK8KZ3JtDo_Gj3E NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I/STUDY GUIDE RIC ERNEST CORDOVA-ESTRELLA Page 15  BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE National Geographic Society. (2019, March 28). Global Warming. Retrieved from National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/global-warming/ Ocampo, E. S. (n.d.). COUNTRY REPORT ON CLIMATE CHANGE POLICIES, GREEN JOBS AND DECENT WORK IN THE PHILIPPINES. Retrieved from Actrav.Courses.Itcilo.org: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Factrav- courses.itcilo.org%2Fen%2Fa352647%2Fa352647-part-material%2Fcountry- reports%2Fphilippines%2Fcountry-report-on-climate-change-policies-green-jobs-and-decent- work-in-the-philippines%2Fat_download%2Ffile%3F The Editors of Encyclopedia. (2020, January 2). Environment. Retrieved from Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/science/environment U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). EPA-Recommended Environmental Best Practices. Retrieved from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: https://archive.epa.gov/region9/water/archive/web/pdf/green-grant-practices.pdf USAID. (2021, October 15). Environment. Retrieved from USAID: https://www.usaid.gov/philippines/energy-and-environment Members: Ali, Jamil Catipon, Karlos Titus Claveron, Jaymar Fernando, Kristal Mae Lacorte, Richard Kevin Parungao, Michael Vin NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM I/STUDY GUIDE RIC ERNEST CORDOVA-ESTRELLA Page 16