SARAGA, Elyssa A.

A206

There are a number of indications that the COVID-19 pandemic has helped to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. Several examples are as follows:
 Reduced industrial activity: During the pandemic, many industries and industrial
facilities were closed or operated at a reduced capacity, which led to a reduction in
emissions from industrial activity.
 Consumer spending has decreased as a result of lockdowns and economic downturns,
which has decreased emissions from the production and supply of consumer goods.
 Less energy is being utilized by workplaces and other commercial facilities as more
people opt to work from home.
 Reduced transportation: There are notably fewer cars on the road and flights in the air
as a result of lockdowns and travel restrictions. As a result, transportation-related
emissions have decreased.

It's important to keep in mind that these emissions reductions will likely only be temporary if
economic activity and traffic levels return to what they were before the outbreak. Because
other variables contributed to the drop, it is also uncertain how much of an emissions dip is
linked to the outbreak.

2 The Philippines are regarded to be particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate

change as a nation. This is because the country is situated in an area that is susceptible to
typhoons, floods, and droughts, among other types of natural catastrophes. The nation is also
at risk from sea level rise because of its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The Philippines is a
developing nation as well, therefore the government lacks the resources and infrastructure
required to combat the effects of climate change.

The following are some particular threats the Philippines faces:

 Coastal towns: Due to increasing sea levels and a rise in the frequency and intensity of
storms, several coastal settlements in the Philippines are at risk.
 Infrastructure destruction is a result of climate change, which also makes natural
disasters like landslides, storms, and floods more dangerous.
 Changes in weather patterns and temperature extremes can have a big impact on crop
yields and the productivity of the entire agricultural industry.
 Biodiversity: In the Philippines, climate change has the potential to lead to a loss of
biodiversity and the extinction of a number of species.
 Water resources: Droughts and floods brought on by climate change may leave certain
locations without enough water.

Despite these weaknesses, the Philippines has proven resilient in the face of climate change.
The country has improved catastrophic risk mitigation and management and created policies
and programs, such the National Climate Change Action Plan, to assist sustainable
development. In general, the Philippines is thought of as a nation that is susceptible to the
consequences of climate change, but it also shows resilience and makes efforts to adapt to and
lessen these effects.

According to the scientific community, 3 we are currently going through a climate crisis. The
primary causes of the Earth's rapid climate change are greenhouse gases released into the
atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial activities. These gases
trap solar heat, warming the planet and changing its climate.

Some of the most significant consequences of the climate catastrophe include the following:
 Global warming: The globe has warmed by around 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees
Fahrenheit) since the start of the industrial era, with the majority of this warming
occurring in the past century.
 As a result of climate change, extreme weather events are happening more frequently
and with higher intensity. These incidents have the potential to gravely damage
infrastructure and cause fatalities.
 The melting of ice and snow at the poles and on mountain tops, which occurs as Earth's
temperature rises, is causing sea levels to rise. This could lead to flooding and the
expulsion of coastal people.
 Climate change has altered the amount and distribution of many species, which has
resulted in decreased biodiversity and the extinction of important ecosystems.
 Increased air pollution, which is a significant contributor to heart and lung disease as
well as an increase in heat-related mortality, are two effects on human health.

Since all of these effects are expected to get worse unless we take swift and significant action to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions, scientists and many nations are referring to it as a climate
catastrophe. The time to take action to mitigate the effects of climate change is now.

4 Emerging diseases and climate change are linked in a number of ways.

 Climate change is causing an increase in global temperatures, which could create
conditions that help some diseases spread. For instance, warmer weather may expand
the range and quantity of pests that transmit disease, such as Lyme disease- and
malaria-transmitting ticks and mosquitoes.
 Rainfall: Changes in precipitation patterns, such as an increase in rain or a drought, can
affect the distribution and abundance of disease-carrying organisms as well as the
availability of food and water for wildlife. This might increase the likelihood of illnesses
like COVID-19, which pass from animals to people.
 Ecosystem changes: Due to climate change, there may be variations in species
distribution and abundance, and biodiversity may be on the decline. This could upset
ecosystems' delicate equilibrium and encourage the genesis of new diseases.
 Human migration: People may be compelled to shift as a result of climate change-
related rising sea levels, droughts, and floods, which raises the risk of disease
 transmission. If individuals are compelled to leave their homes as a result of climate-
related events, they run the risk of contracting new illnesses and dispersing them to
other areas.
 Environmental stressors: People may be exposed to these elements more frequently as
a result of climate change, which could compromise their immune systems and make
them more vulnerable to infectious diseases.

Climate change may impact human health in a variety of ways, including by contributing to the
emergence of new diseases. It is critical that we take climate change and newly emerging
diseases into account in order to protect the general public's health and reduce the likelihood
of a pandemic in the future.