Pollution Control:

Key to Climate Change

Engr. GEOFFREY L. CUETO, Enp

What’s it all about? Global Fever
(Sources: Climatic Research
Unit of the University of East
Anglia, Hadley Centre of the
UK Meteorological Office,
Data set TaveGL2v, Jones
and Moberg, 2003)

(Source: NASA GISS Surface

Temperature Analysis or
GISTEMP)
 Increasing levels of GHGs
in the atmosphere make
for a warmer world leading
Greenhouse gases to abrupt changes in
(GHGs) trap heat from climate!
the sun to keep the
Earth warm.

Methane Nitrous Oxide

CO2
Carbon Dioxide N2O CO2 CO2 HFCs
CH4 NO2 CO2 CH4
N2O
CH4
CO2 N O PFCsHFCs
CH SF6CO2
CO2 4 CH4
2
CO2CO2 SF6CO2
SF6 CO2CO SF6
2
H2O HFCs
PFCs
Water vapor

The Greenhouse Effect

A Dangerous
Experiment

CO2
Global temp

CH4
 • Global atmospheric
concentrations of carbon
dioxide, methane &
nitrous oxide have
increased as a result of
human activities since
1750.
– Pre industrial value:
280 ppm
– 2005 value: 379 ppm

• 11 of the last 12 years

(1995-2006) rank among
the 12th warmest years
Human & since 1850
Natural Drivers of
Climate Change th
Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report: Summary for Policy-makers
 GHG Sources in Phil.

(9,198 kt CO2) (50,038 kt CO2)

TOTAL: 103,085 kt
CO2
Source: 1994 Philippine GHG
Inventory

(33,137 kt CO2) (10,711 kt CO2)

 ➢World has gotten
warmer.

➢It will continue to

get hotter in this
century and
beyond.

➢We are causing

What’s it all about? this dangerous
To summarize… trend.
 • Inundate
wetlands and
other low
lying lands

Rising Sea • Erode

beaches
Levels • Intensify
flooding
Metro Manila

Sea level rise simulations:

- 1 meter
- 2 meters
-- 3 meters
-- 4 meters
CHANGING
COASTLINES / COMMUNITIES
N AV O TA S , P H I L I P P I N E S

0m SEA-LEVEL RISE 1m SEA-LEVEL RISE

CHANGING
COASTLINES / COMMUNITIES
METRO MANILA, PHILIPPINES
CHANGING
COASTLINES / COMMUNITIES
METRO MANILA, PHILIPPINES
CHANGING
COASTLINES / COMMUNITIES
METRO MANILA, PHILIPPINES
CHANGING
COASTLINES / COMMUNITIES
METRO MANILA, PHILIPPINES
ALSO IN OTHER PARTS …
CHANGING
COASTLINES / COMMUNITIES
METRO CEBU, PHILIPPINES
CHANGING
COASTLINES / COMMUNITIES
METRO CEBU, PHILIPPINES
CHANGING
COASTLINES / COMMUNITIES
METRO CEBU, PHILIPPINES
CHANGING
COASTLINES / COMMUNITIES
METRO CEBU, PHILIPPINES
 • Inundate
wetlands and
other low lying
lands

• Erode beaches

Rising Sea • Intensify

flooding
Levels • Increase the
salinity of
rivers, bays and
groundwater
tables
Developing countries,
will be hit soonest
and hardest.
Philippines among
most vulnerable

Adaptation provides
the way to prepare for
and respond to
these impacts.

This is
the challenge
we face.
SALTWATER
INTRUSION
2003
 Annual
mean
precipitation
expected to
More increase
precipitation about 14%
from increased in East Asia
evaporation due – but this is
to higher temp not
distributed
evenly in the
region
Risk: Climate Change
(Rainfall)
Rainfall Hazards
. We are blessed with more than
140 Billion Cubic Meters of
rainfall, each year.

We lose nearly 80% of it

 Disasters: Earth falls

• Mudslide happened after

heavy rains dumped 459.2
mm of rain on the area in the
space of 3 days.

Guinsaugon, Southern Leyte (Feb 2006)

• In Dec 2003, at least 200 died

from landslides and flooding
after the area experienced
the heaviest rainfall in 25
years.
San Ricardo, Southern Leyte (Dec 2003)
 * Winter temps will
change more than
summer temps.

Based on the • Minimum daily temp

IPCC middle will increase more
than max. daily
range scenario, temp
entire East Asia
• Land will warm
Region will more than oceans,
experience causing stronger
monsoon
temperature rise
of about 2.5C by • Higher latitudes and
end of the
altitudes will
experience greater
century warming

• Number of frost days

will decline,
precipitation more rain
that snowfall
Risk: Climate Change
(Temperature)
Temperature Hazards
 Across Society
Vulnerable sectors
– Agriculture ENSO drought events and rice
– Freshwater
– Health
– Biodiversity
– Forests

1 oC increase leads to
15% decrease in rice yield

From: www.sciencentral.com: Cassman, IRRI, National Academy of Sciences

El Niño and Philippine Crops

Source: Impacts of Climate Change in Asia, Burning our Future, Greenpeace

Climate Change Impacts
• Increase in sea surface temperatures of
about 0.50C can already initiate
coral bleaching
• 1995 & 1998 coral bleaching events
(e.g., Tubbataha Reef Marine Park,
Bolinao, Kalayaan Island Group, NW Palawan)
Licuanan et al., 2001
• June-Nov 1998 coral bleaching led to 46% decrease
in coral cover and about 49% of overall coral death in the area

Arceo, et. al. Coral Bleaching in the Philippines. Disturbing Climate. 2001
World Wildlife Fund. Climate Change Scenarios for the Philippines

CORAL
BLEACHING
& DEATH
Coral reefs occupy 1% of total earth’s surface
but is home to 25% of marine life
40 Million Filipinos depend on seafood
as their primary source of protein.
50% of Filipinos depend
on agriculture
/mariculture
as their primary source
of livelihood.
 More intense and longer droughts
since 1970 particularly in the
tropics and subtropics due to
increase in temperature and
decrease in precipitation.

There is observational evidence

of increase intensity of
tropical cyclone activity in
the North Atlantic since 1970
correlated with the increase
in sea surface temperature.

Cold days, cold nights

and frost have
become less frequent.
Direct Observations While hot days, hot
nights, and heat
of Recent Climate waves have become
more frequent.
Change
Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report: Summary for Policy-makers
In summary, harm’s way:

• Typhoon
– Luzon (north, southeast), Visayas (east)
• Drought (El Nino)
– Mindanao (central, west)
• Climate Change
– Temperature: Mindanao, Visayas
(central)
– Rainfall: Luzon (central, south, southeast),
Visayas (east)
 CONCLUSION
• Business as usual is NOT AN OPTION!

• Unless action is taken now:

- the standard of living will suffer far worse
consequences
- poverty will be exacerbated
- there will be more damage to property & lives
- decades of growth can be wiped out
- man’s very survival is at great risk!
 CONCLUSION
• Climate change action
will require concerted
effort of local
governments & their
partners (national govt,
private sector. NGOs, SHARED
communities, devt RESPONSIBILITY
partners) to manage a
changing & more
invasive environment
Climate Change – An integrated framework
Importance of integrated and co-
benefits approach –
climate change (mitigation and
adaptation), disaster risk
management, water resource mgt,
air quality mgt, under the
framework of SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
 Diet is
about
conserving
energy
Diet is about
reducing
waste,
recycling
and
conserving
energy
 Some offices switch off aircons and light during
lunch break and one hour before end of office hours
• Promote and
organize
carpools in your
neighborhood,
office, schools

Use mass transit

Walk or bike
• Practice eco-
waste mgt

• Support
reuse and
recycling
programs

• Do not burn
your waste
including
agricultural
waste
• Protect remaining forest resources
 Mitigation alone is not
enough -
impacts of Climate Change
a REALITY we need to
adjust to and plan for
NOW!!!
ADAPTATION

any adjustment
in natural or human systems
that moderates harm, or
exploits beneficial opportunities
in response to actual or expected
climatic stimuli or their effects.
 Carbon Finance
• An important market-based tool to aid climate
action
• Can support cities in the South promote &
adopt cleaner technologies
• Can generate additional revenues for
possible proponents
• Many opportunities to develop Carbon
Finance projects in key economic sectors
 Clean Development Mechanism
Developing Country

Funding Projects to reduce

GHG emissions
Technology

Industrialized
Country
Emission reduction
compared to an
existing baseline
Certified Emission
Reduction (CER)
After 6 years operation, more than 10M tons dumped
in the facility. Saw another OPPORTUNITY –
Landfill Gas to Energy Project

Montalban bidded the project . Montalban Methane

Power Corp ( a joint venture of the Zamora group with
a British firm won)
Investment of
$38M c/o MMPC

Financial
benefits to
Montalban, Rizal:

Royalty of 10% gross

revenues

Project Revenue Profile:

2/3 Power Tariff
1/3 CER Revenue

Estimated emission
reduction of 5.8M tons of
CO2e
 THE PARIS AGREEMENT

an agreement within the United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate Change, on climate change
mitigation, adaptation, and finance, signed in 2016.

aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of

climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this
century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial
levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature
increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

ratified by 197 countries (member of UNFCCC), including

the Philippines. Effectivity: April 22, 2017
PHOTO: Global Forum on Sustainable Energy
SOURCE: Climate Action Tracker https://climateactiontracker.org/countries/philippines/
Six Climate-Positive Actions to help rebuild economies from COVID-19 Pandemic

Invest In Green Jobs

Invest in sustainable jobs and businesses

through a clean and just transition. Investments
must accelerate the decarbonization of all
aspects of our economy.

No Bailout For Polluting Industries

Do not bailout polluting industries unless these

industries commit to become Paris aligned.

End Fossil-Fuel Subsidies

Fossil fuel subsidies must end, carbon must
have a price to deliver a market-driven shift to a
decarbonized economy. Polluters must pay for
their pollution that is harming communities,
employees, and consumers.
SOURCE: United Nations website
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/recovering-better/six-climate-positive-actions
Six Climate-Positive Actions to help rebuild economies from COVID-19 Pandemic

Climate In All Decisions

Take climate risks and opportunities into account

in all financial and policy decisions.

Work Together

Work together to recover better.

Leave No One Behind

The transition to a carbon neutral economy must
be fair and inclusive. We must leave no one
behind. And we must ensure that more women
are in decision-making positions

SOURCE: United Nations website

https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/recovering-better/six-climate-positive-actions
1 NOV 2021 - 12 NOV 2021
COP26

The UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of

the Parties in Glasgow in partnership with Italy. It will bring the
parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the
Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change. Follow it with special attention to mobility
solutions to tackle climate change, because this sector emits
about one quarter of total greenhouse gases.
Our fair share to address
climate change as
INDIVIDUAL.

Because working together we

can make the WORLD a better
place.

For the next generation to

come.

PHOTO: United Nations Foundation

We have no choice.
THE WORLD IS CHANGING.

Are we on board as leaders or mere

followers?