CLIMATE CHANGE

AND
ITS IMPACTS
For PCAPI R6 PCO Trainings
Science of Climate Change
Water Cycle
What is…….
“Change in climate which is attributed
directly to human activity that alters the
composition of the global atmosphere and
which is in addition to natural climate
variability observed over comparable time
periods.”

- (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

[UNFCCC])
Scientists now agree
that most of the global warming today
have been caused by

Human activities.
Human activities that lead to the increase
in concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) include:

5Worldwide deforestation
5Increasing industrial activity
5Motor vehicle emission
5Waste management practices
5Intensive agriculture
 What is
Greenhouse
Effect?
 Greenhouse Gases
The principal greenhouse gases
in the earth’s atmosphere are:
 Water vapor (H2O)
 Carbon dioxide (CO2)
 Methane (CH4)
 Nitrous oxide (N2O)
 Ozone (O 3 )
Slide courtesy of Leonard Nurse
 Importance of the Greenhouse Effect
1. Energy from the sun
(sunlight) passes through
the glass and heats the
ground, plants, etc.
3. Most of this
infrared radiation
attempts to escape

4. But some
infrared radiation
energy is reflected
2. All the time, invisible infrared back by the glass
radiation are being given off by and trapped inside
ground, plants, etc. the greenhouse
 The Greenhouse Effect
Some of the infrared radiation passes
through the atmosphere but most is
absorbed and re-emitted in all
directions by greenhouse gas
molecules and clouds. The effect of
this is to warm the Earth’s surface and
the lower atmosphere.

Source: IPCC 2007a

 Man-Made Sources of Greenhouse Gas
CARBON DIOXIDE
•From fossil fuel (gasoline, diesel)
•Used in transportation
•Building, heating and cooling activities
•Manufacture of cement and other goods
•Deforestation releases CO2 and reduces its uptake by
plants
•Carbon dioxide is also released in natural processes such
as the decay of plant matter
Source: National Geographic Magazine (2004) PAGASA/DOST
CO2 is CO2 is
released absorbed
into the and stored
atmosphere in ‘sinks’
 Man-Made Sources of Greenhouse Gas
METHANE
•Accounts for 20% of additional greenhouse
effects
•Sources:
• Decomposition of garbage
• Leaks in coal mining and natural gas
production
• Human activities related to agriculture and
landfills
 Man-Made Sources of Greenhouse Gas
NITROUS OXIDE
•Produced by the bacterial breakdown of nitrogen
in soils and oceans
•Sources:
• Use of nitrogen fertilizer and pesticides in
agriculture
• Biomass burning
• Combustion process vehicles
• Acid production
 Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector, 2004
Waste and
Wastewater
3%
Construction
8% Energy Supply
26%
Transport
13%

Agriculture
14%
Industry
19%
Forestry
17%

Source: IPCC, 2007

 Greenhouse gas concentrations
• In 2007, atmospheric CO2
concentration was 383 parts per
million – 37% higher than at the start
of the industrial revolution
 Global emissions from combustion of
fossil fuel and changes in land use
reached 10 billion tons of carbon in
2007, up from about 2 billion tons in
1950
Global Climate Trends and Challenges
 What is global warming?
Global warming refers to the increase
in the earth’s mean temperature due
to the so-called enhanced
greenhouse effect.
 Global Warming Potential
The IPCC has developed a
system for comparing the GHG Atmospheric GWP
lifetime (yrs)
relative ability of each
GHG to absorb/trap heat Carbon 50 - 200 1
in the atmosphere. This is dioxide
known as the global Methane 12 (± 3) 21
warming potential of the
Nitrous 120 310
gas (GWP).
oxide

GWP is calculated using the warming effect of CO2 as a

baseline. For example, a GWP of 15 means that the gas has
a global warming effect 15 times that of CO2.
N.B. See handout on GHG global warming potentials
and atmospheric lifetimes
Slide courtesy of Leonard Nurse
 The world is getting warmer
• Surface temperature warmed by
approximately 0.6°C since the late
19th century
 20th century is the warmest century
of the millennium
 Over the next century, projected
global temperatures rise is 1.4°C to
5.8°C
 Other IPCC findings
• Globally, the areas affected by
drought has increased since the
1970s
 Increase in intense tropical cyclone
activity (hurricane) in the North
Atlantic since the 1950s
 Other IPCC findings
Satellite data since 1978 show that the
annual average shrinkage of the Arctic
sea ice is 2.7% [2.1 to 3.3] per decade
with larger decreases during summer at
7.4% [5.0 to 9.8] per decade

Visualization of the 2007 Arctic sea ice

minimum
 Melting glaciers
• Himalayan glaciers are receding faster
than in any other part of the world

 could disappear altogether by 2035,

if not sooner
 Affecting:
o 1/2 billion people in the Himalaya-
Hindu-Kush region
o 1/4 billion people downstream
 Sea Level Rise
• Global average sea level rise of
0.17mm during the 20th century
• Projected sea levels rise of up to 80 cm
by end of 20th century
• Melting of the Greenland and West
Antarctic ice sheets could be hastened
by lubrication of bedrock & collapse of
buttressing ice shelves
 Projected impacts of climate change
Source: Stern Review
Global temperature change (relative to pre-industrial)
0°C 1°C 2°C 3°C 4°C 5°C
Food Falling crop yields in many areas, particularly
developing regions
Possible rising yields in some
Falling yields in many
high latitude regions
developed regions
Water Significant fall in water availability
Small mountain glaciers Sea level rise threatens
e.g. Mediterranean and Southern
disappear – melt-water major cities
Africa
supplies threatened in
several areas
Ecosystems
Extensive Damage Rising number of species face extinction
to Coral Reefs
Extreme
Weather Rising intensity of storms, forest fires, droughts, flooding, heat waves
Events

Risk of Abrupt and Major Increasing risk of dangerous feedbacks and abrupt,
Irreversible Changes large-scale shifts in the climate system
Philippine Climate Change Scenario
 CO2
Emissions
per Capita
(tons)
Graph/Foto courtesy of Lory Tan & RPDV
 “The poorest developing
countries will be hit earliest
and hardest by climate change,
even though they have
contributed little to causing the
problem.”

The Stern Review: The Economics of Climate Change. HM

Treasury http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/
 Sectoral Impacts
of
Climate Variability
and
Change
Impacts on Agriculture
 Lowered agricultural production due to:
– More frequent droughts with El Niño
Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events
o 1°C increase in temperature leads to a
0.6 ton (or 15%) drop in rice yield per
hectare
– Floods associated with La Niña
– Increased pest/disease incidence
 Impacts on Coastal Zones
• 10 cm/decade Sea Level Rise (SLR) in some
coastal cities; some areas already partially
inundated
• Under a projected SLR of 100 cm, an
estimated 2 million people could be
displaced
• Beaches and shoreline may erode and thus
increase storm surges susceptibility for
coastal areas especially in Eastern Phils.
 Impacts on Human Health
Projected climate change-related exposures are likely
to affect the health status of millions of people,
particularly those with low adaptive capacity,
through:
• increases in malnutrition and consequent
disorders, with implications for child growth and
development
• increased deaths, disease and injury due to heat
waves, floods, storms, fires and droughts
• increased burden of diarrhoeal disease
http://www.greenfacts.org/en/climate-change-ar4/l-3/5-future-projected-impacts.htm#2p4
 Impacts on Human Health

• increased frequency of cardio-

respiratory diseases due to higher
concentrations of
ground level ozone related to
climate change
• the altered spatial distribution of
some infectious disease vectors
http://www.greenfacts.org/en/climate-change-ar4/l-3/5-future-projected-impacts.htm#2p4
 Impacts on Human Health
• Increased incidence/epidemics of:
– Vector , Water-borne and rodent-
related diseases
– Disruptions of environmental
health services and infrastructures
during disasters
 Impacts on Human Health
• Heat waves – heat-related deaths and
illnesses
• Air Pollution – cardiovascular and
respiratory diseases
• Terrestrial changes – infectious
diseases
• Altered marine ecology – heat-related
deaths and illnesses
 Impacts on Human Health
• Storms – death, injuries and
intestinal illnesses
• Droughts – rising malnutrition
• Population displacement –
increased risk of diseases
• Salt water encroachment in coastal
aquifers – risk of intestinal illnesses
 BASIC POLICIES OF THE PHILIPPINES
As Guide in Private Sector to Address
Climate Change
Republic Act 10174
August 16 2012

“Climate Change Act as Amended”

Amending R.A. 9729 – “Climate Change Act of 2009”
An Act establishing the people’s survival fund to
provide long-term finance streams to enable the
Government to effectively address the problem of
Climate Change
 CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION

• An independent and autonomous body

under the Office of the President
• The sole policy-making body to which
shall be tasked to coordinate, monitor
and evaluate the programs and action
plans of the government relating to
Climate Change
Functions of the Climate Change
Commission
• Coordinate with Local Government
Units (LGUs) and Private Entities to
address vulnerability to Climate Change
Impacts of Regions, Provinces, Cities and
Municipalities
 National Framework Strategy
on Climate Change
• Guiding Principle
The Framework recognizes the value of forming multi-
stakeholder participation and partnerships in Climate
Change initiatives, including with Civil Society, Private
Sector and Local Government Units (LGUs), and
especially with Indigenous Peoples and other
marginalized groups most vulnerable to Climate
Change Impact
Policy and Incentive Mechanisms to facilitate Private
Sector participation in addressing Adaptation and
Mitigation objectives shall be promoted and supported
 EXECUTIVE ORDER 174
Institutionalizing the Philippine GHG Inventory
Management and Reporting System (PGHGIMRS)
Climate Change Commission - as the Overall Lead
Agency
Other Lead Agencies:
• Dept. Of Agriculture and Philippine Statistics Authority
– Agriculture Sector
• Dept. Of Energy – Energy Sector
• DENR – Waste, Industrial Processes and Land Use Change and
Forestry (LUCF)
• DOTC – Transportation Sector
 Under Executive Order 174
• Functions and Role of Climate Change Commission as
Overall Lead Agency
• Funding Mechanisms
• GHG Inventory in the context of sustainable development
• Established to institutionalize the GHG inventory
management and reporting system in relevant government
agencies to enable the country to transition towards
Climate-resilient pathway for sustainable development
• CCC may invite concerned LGUs, Academe, Private and
Public Institutions to participate, complement and assist in
the implementation of the PGHGIMRS
• PSA may assist other lead agencies in the conduct of the
sectoral GHG inventory
 BUSINESS BENEFIT IN CLIMATE CHANGE
By introducing sound environmental management practices
and reducing environmental impact, Business can Profit
from cost savings through efficiency or productivity gains.
Other benefits include:
 Cost savings from less use of raw materials, energy and
water;
 Receiving recognition such as those accord to companies
in today’s presentation of best practices;
 Finding new market opportunities for “Green Goods” and
Services; and
 Improving workplace safety through reduced use of
industrial chemicals and reduced waste
ADAPTATION and MITIGATION STRATEGIES
• Instil awareness on CC in industries especially in Small and
Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
• Go beyond voluntary industry codes of conduct to address
Climate Change
• Consider including “Emergency Management” in business plans
• Capacitate SMEs in the supply chain to attain or implement
certain level of environmental standards
• Location of Business as it may be affected by an extreme event
like Fire or Flood
• Protection of Business data and essential operating equipment
• Alternative Operational Plan that would enable the company to
continue to operate or remain in business if there is a disruption
to the company’s supply chain or distribution system
 • Drive Less and Drive Smart
Less driving means fewer emissions.
Besides saving gasoline, walking and biking are great forms of
exercise.
Have an efficient
rail transit for mass
Transportation
 • Conserve the
use of electricity
and water

• Put out lights that are

not in use or close the
television when
nobody is watching
According to studies abroad, 75% of electricity consumed at home
is stand by power to keep electronics running while they are off.
• Change a Light Bulb
• Replace regular light
bulbs with compact
fluorescent light (CFL)
bulbs.

• Replacing just one 60-

watt incandescent light
bulb with a CFL will save
you Php30.00 over the
life of the bulb.

• CFLs also last 10 times

longer than incandescent
bulbs, and use two-thirds
less energy.
 Plant a Tree

A single tree will absorb approximately one ton of

carbon dioxide during its lifetime.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

 Power Sector

 Clean energy resources: wind,

solar, tidal, geothermal and
hydro-electric power
 EVERYONE OF US
CAN CONTRIBUTE EVEN JUST
A LITTLE IF WE ARE
WILLING TO LEARN HOW
TO
MITIGATE
CLIMATE CHANGE