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SPECIFIC ISSUES ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Physical Sciences  CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Physical Sciences  Atmosphere Our atmosphere is...

SPECIFIC ISSUES ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Physical Sciences  CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Physical Sciences  Atmosphere Our atmosphere is a delicate life-giving blanket of air that surrounds the fragile earth. Anywhere we go, it must go with us!  Layers of the Atmosphere Taylor T Troposphere Swift S Stratosphere Mother M Mesosphere To T Thermosphere Everyone E Exosphere  Troposphere The troposphere starts at the Earth's surface and extends 8 to 14.5 kilometers high (5 to 9 miles). This part of the atmosphere is the densest. Almost all weather is in this region. Credit: Nasa.gov  Stratosphere The stratosphere starts just above the troposphere and extends to 50 kilometers (31 miles) high. The ozone layer, which absorbs and scatters the solar ultraviolet radiation, is in this layer. Credit: Nasa.gov  Thermosphere The thermosphere starts just above the mesosphere and extends to 600 kilometers (372 miles) high. Aurora and satellites occur in this layer. Credit: Nasa.gov  Exosphere This is the upper limit of our atmosphere. It extends from the top of the thermosphere up to 10,000 km (6,200 mi). Credit: Nasa.gov Composition of the Atmosphere Variable components (amounts vary over time and location) Carbon dioxide CO2) 0.038% Water vapor (H20) 0-4% Methane (CH4) trace Sulfur dioxide (SO2) trace Ozone (O3) trace Nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2, N2O) trace DISTINGUISHING THE DIFFERENCE WEATHER ✓ A specific meteorological event or condition that happens over a period of hours or a few days. CLIMATE ✓ The average weather conditions over a long period of time (typically 30 years) COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Physical Sciences Variable components of air GREENHOUSE GASES AND EFFECT The earth’s surface then absorbs much of this solar energy and degrade it to longer wave infrared radiation (that is heat), which then rises - into the troposphere, some of this heat escape into space. Some are absorbed by molecules of greenhouse gases, warming the air. This natural trapping of heat in the troposphere is called greenhouse effect. Small amounts of heat trapping gases such as water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), ozone (O3), methane CH4, nitrous oxide (N2O) and chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) play a key role in determining the earth's average temperature and thus its climates. COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Physical Sciences GREENHOUSE GASES AND EFFECT The greenhouse effect first proposed by Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius in 1896, has been confirmed by numerous laboratory experiments and atmospheric measurements. Significance: the earth would be a cold and lifeless planet with an average surface temperature of -18 °C. COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Physical Sciences GREENHOUSE GASES Carbon dioxide concentration. Carbon dioxide is responsible for 50-60% of the global warming from greenhouse gases produced by human activities since pre-industrial times. Chloroflourocarbon contributes to global warming in the troposphere and deplete ozone in the stratosphere. Methane concentration. Methane is produced when anaerobic bacteria break down organic matter in moist places that lack oxygen. Nitrous oxide concentration. Nitrous oxide can trap heat in the troposphere and deplete ozone in the stratosphere. COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Physical Sciences GLOBAL WARMING Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation. In common usage, the term refers to recent warming and implies a human influence. COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Physical Sciences  SCIENTIFIC CONSENSUS ABOUT FUTURE GLOBAL WARMING According to IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) the earth's mean surface temperature will rise 1-3.5°C between 1990 and 2100. COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Physical Sciences  POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF WARMED WORLD 1. Changes in food production; reduce water supplies 2. Change in the makeup and location of many world's forests. 3. Can cause massive wild fires 4. Reduction in biodiversity due to loss of habitat; destroying the coral reefs 5. Water in the oceans would expand and lead to rise in sea level. COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Physical Sciences  POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF WARMED WORLD 6. Warming at the poles caused ice sheets and glaciers to melt, the global sea level would rise far more; melting of polar ice caps 7. Weather extremes are expected to increase in number and severity 8. Poses threats to human health, affects the respiratory tract increasing air pollution in winter months 9. Drought 10. Lead to a growing number of environment refugees. Causing social disorder and political instability. COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Physical Sciences REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION In 1992 Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro, 106 nations approved a Convention on Climate Change, in which developed countries committed themselves to reducing their emission of CO, and other greenhouse gases. In December 1997 representatives of 160 nations met in Kyoto, Japan to negotiate a new treaty to help slow global warming. COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Physical Sciences CLIMATE CHANGE Climate change refers to a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns when that change lasts for an extended time (i.e., decades to millions of years). Global climate change has already had observable effects on the environment. Glaciers have shrunk, ice on rivers and lakes breaking up earlier, sea level rises, plant and animal ranges have shifted, and trees are flowering sooner. COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Physical Sciences CLIMATE CHANGE Effects that scientists had predicted in the past that would result from global climate change are now occurring: ✓ global temperature rise ✓ shrinking ice sheets or loss of sea ice ✓ accelerated sea level rise and longer ✓ more intense heat waves ✓ water acidification and extreme events COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Physical Sciences CLIMATE CHANGE Almost all climate scientists agree that climate-warming trends over the past century are very likely due to human activities, and most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this position. One manifestation of climate change is global warming. COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Physical Sciences Alternative Solutions: NATURAL & ENERGY RESOURCES Natural Resources Natural resources are the raw materials and sources of energy that we use. Water, air, and soil are three natural resources that we cannot live without. Energy In physics, energy is defined as the amount of work that can be performed by force, whereas power is defined as the rate at which work is performed. Energy can exist in a variety of forms: Chemical energy, Nuclear energy, Electrical energy, Coal Energy, Mechanical Energy, Solar Energy, Light energy, Heat Energy, Biomass Energy, and Geothermal Energy. Forms of Energy 1. Chemical energy – the energy which is stored in the bonds of chemical compounds (molecules and atoms). 2. Nuclear energy – energy released from the nucleus, the core of atoms, made up of protons and neutrons. This source of energy can be produced in two ways: fission – when nuclei of atoms split into several parts – or fusion – when nuclei fuse together. 3. Electrical energy – energy related to forces on electrically charged particles and the movement of those particles (often electrons in wires). Forms of Energy 4. Coal energy – the energy stored by plants that lived hundreds of millions of years ago in swampy forests. 5. Mechanical energy – the energy of either an object in motion or the energy that is stored in objects by their position. 6. Solar energy – the radiation from the Sun capable of producing heat. 7. Light energy – a kind of kinetic energy with the ability to make types of light visible to human eyes. Forms of Energy 8. Heat energy – the result of the movement of tiny particles called atoms, molecules or ions in solids, liquids and gases. 9. Biomass energy – contains stored chemical energy from the sun that is produced by plants through photosynthesis. 10. Geothermal energy – heat energy from the earth—Geo (earth) + thermal (heat). Types of Energy Sources Renewable energy cannot be depleted over time. Non-renewable energy deplete over time. RENEWABLE NON-RENEWABLE Solar Energy Nuclear energy Mechanical Energy Chemical energy Light energy Coal Energy Heat Energy Electrical energy Geothermal Energy Biomass Energy Energy Crisis An energy crisis is defined as any significant shortage in energy supply to a country or region. Energy crises can be caused by a shortage of: - resources, - disruptions to the supply chain, - sudden upticks in demand, - or sometimes all three. Energy Crisis in the Philippines The Philippines relies heavily on the electricity and natural gas acquired from the Malampaya gas field. This reserve is expected to run dry in 2027, causing an energy crisis. Causes of Energy Crisis The energy crisis is primarily caused by the limited availability of non-renewable energy sources such as oil, natural gas, and coal. Some others are waste of energy, overconsumption, overpopulation, infrastructure, natural disasters, few sources of renewable energy, socioeconomic disparities, and war.  SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS Sustainable Development Goals The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to transform our world. They are a call to action to end poverty and inequality, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy health, justice and prosperity. It is critical that no one is left behind.  The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are also known as the Global Goals. The SDGs are new, universal set of goals, targets and indicators that UN member states will be expected to use to frame country agendas and policies over the next 15 years. It consists of 17 goals, 169 targets and 232 unique indicators. There are 244 indicators listed in the final indicator. However, since nine indicators repeat under two or three different targets, the actual total number of individual indicators in the list is 232. LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND. This is what guided world leaders of 193 countries to solving the globe’s most pressing problems of today.  END POVERTY IN ALL ITS FORMS EVERYWHERE Eradicating poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice and the key to unlocking an enormous human potential. Still, nearly half of the world’s population lives in poverty, and lack of food and clean water is killing thousands every single day of the year. Together, we can feed the hungry, wipe out disease and give everyone in the world a chance to prosper and live a productive and rich life. END HUNGER, ACHIEVE FOOD SECURITY AND IMPROVED NUTRITION AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE Hunger is the leading cause of death in the world. Our planet has provided us with tremendous resources, but unequal access and inefficient handling leaves millions of people malnourished. If we promote sustainable agriculture with modern technologies and fair distribution systems, we can sustain the whole world’s population and make sure that nobody will ever suffer from hunger again.  ENSURE HEALTHY LIVES AND PROMOTE WELL-BEING FOR ALL AT ALL AGES Over the last 15 years, the number of childhood deaths has been cut in half. This proves that it is possible to win the fight against almost every disease. Still, we are spending an astonishing amount of money and resources on treating illnesses that are surprisingly easy to prevent. The new goal for worldwide Good Health promotes healthy lifestyles, preventive measures and modern, efficient healthcare for everyone.  ENSURE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE QUALITY EDUCATION AND PROMOTE LIFELONG LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL First, the bad news on education. Poverty, armed-conflict, and other emergencies keep many, many kids around the world out of school. In fact, in developing regions, kids from the poorest households are four times more likely to be out of school than those of the richest households. Now for some good news. Since 2000, there has been enormous progress on the goal to provide primary education for all children worldwide. The primary school enrollment rate in developing regions reached 91%. By measures in any school, that’s a good grade. Now, let’s get an even better grade for all kids and achieve the goal of universal primary and secondary education, affordable vocational training, access to higher education, and more.  ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS Gender bias is undermining our social fabric and devalues all of us. It is not just a human rights issue; it is a tremendous waste of the world’s human potential. By denying women equal rights, we deny half the population a chance to live life at its fullest. Political, economic and social equality for women will benefit all the world’s citizens. Together we can eradicate prejudice and work for equal rights and respect for all. ENSURE ACCESS TO WATER AND SANITATION FOR ALL Sustainable management of water resources and access to safe water and sanitation are essential for unlocking economic growth and productivity, and provide significant leverage for existing investments in health and education. ENSURE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, SUSTAINABLE AND MODERN ENERGY FOR ALL Renewable energy solutions are becoming cheaper, more reliable and more efficient every day. Our current reliance on fossil fuels is unsustainable and harmful to the planet, which is why we have to change the way we produce and consume energy. Implementing these new energy solutions as fast as possible is essential to counter climate change, one of the biggest threats to our own survival. PROMOTE SUSTAINED, INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH, FULL AND PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT AND DECENT WORK FOR ALL Economic growth should be a positive force for the whole planet. This is why we must make sure that financial progress creates decent and fulfilling jobs while not harming the environment. We must protect labour rights and once and for all put a stop to modern slavery and child labour. If we promote job creation with expanded access to banking and financial services, we can make sure that everybody gets the benefits of entrepreneurship and innovation.  BUILD RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE, PROMOTE INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIALIZATION AND FOSTER INNOVATION A functioning and resilient infrastructure is the foundation of every successful community. To meet future challenges, our industries and infrastructure must be upgraded. For this, we need to promote innovative sustainable technologies and ensure equal and universal access to information and financial markets. This will bring prosperity, create jobs and make sure that we build stable and prosperous societies across the globe.  REDUCE INEQUALITY WITHIN AND AMONG COUNTRIES Too much of the world’s wealth is held by a very small group of people. This often leads to financial and social discrimination. In order for nations to flourish, equality and prosperity must be available to everyone – regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs or economic status. When every individual is self sufficient, the entire world prospers.  MAKE CITIES AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS INCLUSIVE, SAFE, RESILIENT, AND SUSTAINABLE The world’s population is constantly increasing. To accommodate everyone, we need to build modern, sustainable cities. For all of us to survive and prosper, we need new, intelligent urban planning that creates safe, affordable and resilient cities with green and culturally inspiring living conditions.  ENSURE SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION PATTERNS Our planet has provided us with an abundance of natural resources. But we have not utilized them responsibly and currently consume far beyond what our planet can provide. We must learn how to use and produce in sustainable ways that will reverse the harm that we have inflicted on the planet.  TAKE URGENT ACTION TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS Climate change is a real and undeniable threat to our entire civilization. The effects are already visible and will be catastrophic unless we act now. Through education, innovation and adherence to our climate commitments, we can make the necessary changes to protect the planet. These changes also provide huge opportunities to modernize our infrastructure which will create new jobs and promote greater prosperity across the globe.  CONSERVE AND SUSTAINABLE USE THE OCEANS, SEAS, AND MARINE RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Healthy oceans and seas are essential to our existence. They cover 70 percent of our planet and we rely on them for food, energy and water. Yet, we have managed to do tremendous damage to these precious resources. We must protect them by eliminating pollution and overfishing and immediately start to responsibly manage and protect all marine life around the world.  PROTECT, RESTORE, AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE USE OF TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS, SUSTAINABLY MANAGE FORESTS, COMBAT DESERTIFICATION, AND HALT AND REVERSE LAND DEGRADATION AND HALT BIODIVERSITY LOSS A flourishing life on land is the foundation for our life on this planet. We are all part of the planet’s ecosystem and we have caused severe damage to it through deforestation, loss of natural habitats and land degradation. Promoting a sustainable use of our ecosystems and preserving biodiversity is not a cause. It is the key to our own survival.  EFFECTIVE, ACCOUNTABLE AND INCLUSIVE INSTITUTIONS AT ALL LEVELS Compassion and a strong moral compass is essential to every democratic society. Yet, persecution, injustice and abuse still runs rampant and is tearing at the very fabric of civilization. We must ensure that we have strong institutions, global standards of justice, and a commitment to peace everywhere.  STRENGTHEN THE MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION AND REVITALIZE THE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The Global Goals can only be met if we work together. International investments and support is needed to ensure innovative technological development, fair trade and market access, especially for developing countries. To build a better world, we need to be supportive, empathetic, inventive, passionate, and above all, cooperative. Get in Touch With Us Send us a message or visit us City of Batac, Ilocos Norte, Philippines (63) 77-600-0459 [email protected] Follow us for updates facebook.com/MMSUofficial www.mmsu.edu.ph