CLINICAL BIOETHICS

GROUP 3
Aguilar, Michaella C.
Badua, Patrisha Isabelle S.
Biasong, Hannah Grace A.
Caraan, Kathreen Rose C.
De Castro, Meredith M.
Domigpe, Janeth T.
Garma, Bryan Neil C.
Kasan, Bazmah Allyzah E.

Topic: Protecting Future Generations, Protection of the Environment, The Biosphere and
Biodiversity

1. List down your activities that contribute to the greenhouse effect/ climate change

 Excessive use of air conditioner during the summer- most people use air conditioners
to stay more comfortable in their homes or offices during hot and humid summer
weather. Air conditioners can significantly improve indoor air quality and create a much
healthier atmosphere. However, they use a lot of electricity. As a result, large percentage
of electricity is created by coal-burning power plants, air conditioning contributes
indirectly to the release of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. The organic compound
Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) is the primary refrigerant used in air conditioning and
refrigeration units. HFCs are a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide and
are leaked anywhere from manufacturing air conditioning equipment, to installation, to
the disposal of old units.

 Keeping our food cold using a refrigerator- the kitchen refrigerator is an obvious
contributor to global warming because it usually sucks in electricity that was made by
burning fossil fuels. But it turns out that the refrigerator does harm to the environment
before it is even plugged in because the insulating foam in its innards is made with a gas
that is more than 1,000 times worse, molecule for molecule, than carbon dioxide.

 Electricity consumption- electricity production generates the second largest share of

greenhouse gas emissions. Approximately 63 percent of our electricity comes from
burning fossil fuels, mostly coal and natural gas. The burning of fossil fuels leads to
release of harmful products into the environment. An increase in the consumption of fuel
leads to harmful effects on the environment.

 Transportation- The transportation generates the largest share of greenhouse gas

emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation primarily come from burning
fossil fuel for our cars, trucks, ships, trains, and planes.
  Groceries- It’s estimated that 12 million barrels of oil are used to manufacture the 30
million plastic bags. That leads to carbon dioxide build-up in our atmosphere. Plastic
bags often end up in our landfills or in our oceans causing an ecosystem disruption. It’s
estimated that 100,000 marine animals die each year from suffocating or ingesting bags

 Wasting consumables- Waste hastens global warming by supporting high demand for
processed foods, fresh produce and restaurant fare. In reality, roughly 33% of the world’s
food is wasted or lost each year. And that food needs to be replenished. Food production
and processing, transport and delivery and ultimate disposal of waste all produce
greenhouse gas emissions. Throwing good food away not only keeps the demand for
these processes needlessly high; it also damages the environment.

2. What can you do to bring down your carbon footprint?

 Learn the 5 R’s: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Rot, Recycle

o Refuse – Avoid single use plastics and paper products by saying no thank you, opting
for reusables.
o Reduce – Downsize what you purchase, opting to be more mindful of what you really
need.
o Reuse – Always find a way to keep an item out of the landfill by keeping it in great
condition, repairing or upcycling it when it breaks.
o Rot – Set up a compost system for your food scraps, or find a food scrap drop off
center (like a farmers market, or community garden) near your house.
o Recycle – Properly recycle any plastic, paper, glass or metal that comes into your life
you cannot refuse, reduce, or reuse by researching your state’s recycling laws.

 Food
o Eat low on the food chain. This means eating mostly fruits, veggies, grains, and
beans. Livestock—meat and dairy—is responsible for 14.5 percent of manmade global
greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from feed production and processing and the methane
(25 times more potent than CO2 at trapping heat in the atmosphere over 100 years) that
beef and sheep belch out. Every day that you forgo meat and dairy, you can reduce your
carbon footprint by 8 pounds—that’s 2,920 pounds a year. You can start by
joining Meatless Mondays.
o Choose organic and local foods that are in season. Transporting food from far away,
whether by truck, ship, rail or plane, uses fossil fuels for fuel and for cooling to keep
foods in transit from spoiling.
o Buy foodstuffs in bulk when possible using your own reusable container.
o Reduce your food waste by planning meals ahead of time, freezing the excess and reusing
leftovers.
o Compost your food waste if possible.

 Shopping
o Buy less stuff! And buy used or recycled items whenever possible.
 o Bring your own reusable bag when you shop.
o Try to avoid items with excess packaging.
o If you’re in the market for a new computer, opt for a laptop instead of a desktop. Laptops
require less energy to charge and operate than desktops.
o If shopping for appliances, lighting, office equipment or electronics, look for Energy Star
products, which are certified to be more energy efficient.
o Support and buy from companies that are environmentally responsible and sustainable.
o Don’t Buy “Fast Fashion” Many major clothing retailers practice what is known as “fast
fashion” – selling an endless cycle of must-have trends at extremely low prices. Heaps
and heaps of clothing ends up in the landfill, often to justify buying the latest styles.
There’s also the issue of contamination: almost half of our clothing is made with cotton,
and unless it’s labeled as “organic” cotton, there’s a high chance that it’s genetically
modified cotton sprayed with lots of pesticides (including known carcinogens). This can
be damaging to neighboring non-GMO crops, cause water contamination, reduce
biodiversity, and have negative impacts on human health.

 Unplug Your Devices

o Leave your electronics unplugged at all times, unless you’re actually using them.

 Drive Less
o Choose to walk, bike, or take the bus – leave the car at home, and you’ll be making
an easy decision with immediate results.

 Plant a Garden
o We all know plants absorb carbon dioxide – a beneficial relationship for humans, that
we should all be seeking to nurture. Plant some bee-friendly flowers, a few trees, or a
vegetable garden. Balcony gardens are great for urban dwellings. Cities often need to
reduce the “urban heat island” effect – basically, cities tend to be hotter than rural
areas because of vast pavement areas, concrete buildings, and increased human
activity. Creating more spaces for plants, grasses, and trees can mitigate this effect
and lead to better cooling, which will be a necessity with worsening climate change.
Help avoid the “heat island” effect by planting trees for shade, or maybe try a green
roof or community garden.

 Line-Dry Your Clothes

o the traditional method of line-drying your clothing is much better for the
environment. One dryer load uses 5 times more electricity than washing – by simply
line-drying your clothes, you can save 1/3 of their carbon footprint.

3. Discuss how the principle of environmental ethics can be applied towards mitigation of
climate change.

Environmental ethics is the ethical relationship of human beings and the environment. All forms
of living have the right to live thus we should not ignore it. The concept of environmental ethics
is that human beings are a part of the environment and so are the other living beings. It focuses
on how the human behavior affects the nature and all the living. It is concerned with what is
good for the environment and what is not good for the environment. Thus, our actions towards
the nature will always have an effect, whether good or bad depending on our behavior. If we
have a proper understanding about environmental ethics, we will have a deeper relationship with
our environment. It is our moral responsibility to preserve the nature. Respect for nature should
always be practiced. If we have this kind of respect towards the nature, then there will not be any
problem. Hence, this will help lessen the climate change. Environment is part of our lives and we
need it for us to live, however we should know our limitations and not to take advantage from it.
Environmental ethics is reflection on what humans can do in the face on moral choices relevant
to environmental problems, including moral choices in fulfilling human and other life-related
needs that affect the environment.

Climate change not only threatens our ecosystems, but it also undermines the foundation of our
fundamental rights, deepens inequalities and creates new forms of injustice. Adapting to climate
change and trying to mitigate its impacts are not just a matter of scientific knowledge and
political will; it also demands broader view of a complex situation.

Prevention of harm - Low greenhouse gas emissions development and initiatives to foster
climate resilience.

Precautionary approach - Do not postpone the adoption and preventive measures or mitigate the
adverse effects of climate change.

Equity and Justice - Respond to climate change in a way that benefits all. Allow those who are
affected by climate change to access proceedings such as redress or remedy.

Sustainable development - Adopt new paths for development that make it possible to sustain and
preserve the ecosystem. Building a responsible society that is more resilient to climate change.
Special attention must be seen to areas where the humanitarian consequences of climate change
can be dramatic such as food, energy, water, desertification, land degradation and natural
disasters.

Solidarity - Strengthen timely cooperative action in various areas, including technology

development and transfer, knowledge sharing and capacity building.