ES LECTURE 14,15&16:

Climate Change, Global

Warming, and Environmental
Laws and Regulations WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY-PHILIPPINES
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Science and Mathematics
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Prepared by: DIVINE GRACE S. BATENGA, MSc.
LEARNING OUTCOMES

a)Identify all the environmental laws and regulations and

develop an in-depth understanding in following its rules.
b)Analyze the global impact of climate change.
c) Generate innovative practices and solutions in reducing
the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
d)Reflect critically on the causes of climate change and see
how human activities affect the climate.

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THE OCEAN AND CLIMATE

❑ What is Climate?
➢ Traditionally, climate has been defined as the average weather: temperature,
precipitation, cloudiness, and how these variables change throughout the year.

➢ For many, the term ”climate” refers to long-term weather statistics.

➢ For more broadly and more accurately, the definition of climate is a system
consisting of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere.
▪ Physical, chemical, and biological processes are involved in interactions
among the components of the climate system.

▪ Vegetation, soil moisture, and glaciers, for example, are as much a part of the
climate system as are temperature and precipitation.

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THE OCEAN AND CLIMATE
❑ The Ocean Strongly Influence Earth’s Present
Climate
▪ The ocean drives the atmospheric circulation by
heating the atmosphere, mostly in the tropics.

▪ Most of the sunlight absorbed by Earth is absorbed

at the top of the tropical ocean.

➢ The atmosphere does not absorb much sunlight, it

is too transparent.

➢ The ocean absorbs 98% of the solar radiation

when the sun is high in the sky.

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THE OCEAN AND CLIMATE
❑ The Ocean Strongly Influence Earth’s Present
Climate
▪ The ocean loses heat by evaporation.

➢ Think of this as the ocean sweating.

➢ Trade winds carry the evaporated water vapor to the Inter-

Tropical Convergence Zone where it condenses as rain.

▪ The ocean also loss heat by sending out infrared

radiation.

➢ The infrared radiation is absorbed by water vapor in the

tropical atmosphere.

▪ The winds drive ocean currents, and together they

carry heat from the tropics to the polar regions.

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THE CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)
PROBLEM AND OTHER
GREEN HOUSE GASES

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The carbon dioxide problem can be stated relatively simply:
1. More than six and a half billion people burn fuel to keep warm, to provide
electricity to light their homes and to run industry, and to move about using cars,
buses, boats, trains, and airplanes.

2. The burning of fuel produces carbon dioxide, which is released to the

atmosphere.

3. The burning of fuels adds about 6 gigatons of carbon to the atmosphere each
year.

4. Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere have risen from about 270 parts
per million (0.026%) before the industrial age to about 380 parts per million
(0.038%) by 2006, a 41% increase over preindustrial values, and a 31% increase
since 1870.

5. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, and the increased concentration of carbon

dioxide in the atmosphere must influence earth’s radiation balance.

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OTHER GREENHOUSE
GASES

Water Vapor

• This is by far the most important

greenhouse gas.
• It evaporates mostly from the ocean,
and it causes earth’s surface to be about
30°C warmer (out of the 33°C of
warming caused by all greenhouse
gases combined).

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OTHER GREENHOUSE
GASES

Methane

• It is produced by bacteria in wetlands

and bogs, cattle, rice paddies, termites,
landfills, and coal mining.
• About two thirds of the emissions into
the atmosphere come from human Flammable ice bubbles:
activity, mostly in the northern frozen bubbles of
hemisphere. methane, trapped
beneath Alberta's Lake
• Methane does not remain long in the Abraham.
atmosphere, about 8 years (Fischer et
al, 2008), so emissions and sinks are
already close to balance.

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OTHER GREENHOUSE
GASES

Nitrous Oxide

• From microbes in the soil and the

ocean, and from burning fossil fuels at
high temperatures, such as car engines.
• About one-third of the emissions into
the atmosphere come from human
activity.
• N2O concentrations were 319 parts per
billion in 2004, which was 18% larger
than pre-industrial concentrations.
• Its lifetime in the atmosphere is similar
to that of carbon dioxide, about a
century.
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OTHER GREENHOUSE
GASES

Halocarbons

• A chlorofluorocarbon or other
compound in which the hydrogen
of a hydrocarbon is replaced by
halogens.
• Examples are refrigerants used in
air conditioners.

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OTHER GREENHOUSE
GASES

Tropospheric Ozone

• Produced by smog.
• Ozone is least concentrated in
the ground layer (or planetary
boundary layer) of the
troposphere.
• Ground level or tropospheric
ozone is created by chemical
reactions between oxides of
nitrogen (NOx gases) and volatile
organic compounds (VOCs).
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How do greenhouse gases influence Earth’s
surface temperature?
1. Energy from the Sun beats down on
the Earth.

2. Some energy is reflected into space,

the rest enters the atmosphere.

3. The Earth absorbs the energy emits

heat.

4. Unlike other gases, greenhouse gases

absorb and re-emit the heat energy,
some is emitted into space and some
back to Earth.

5. The heat is effectively trapped and

warms the Earth.

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GLOBAL WARMING &
EVIDENCES OF CLIMATE
CHANGE

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Glaciers are melting.
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Sea levels are
rising

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 Cloud forests are
dying

• Forests still cover about 30

percent of the world’s land
area, but they are
disappearing at an alarming
rate.
• We need trees for a variety
of reasons, not least of
which is that they absorb
not only the carbon dioxide
that we exhale, but also the
heat-trapping greenhouse
gases that human activities
emit.

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Wildlife is scrambling to keep pace.
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 It has become clear that
humans have caused most
of the past century's
warming by releasing heat-
trapping gases as we power
our modern lives.

Called greenhouse gases,

their levels are higher now
than at any time in the last
800,000 years.

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Evidence for Climate Change

This graph, based on the comparison of atmospheric samples contained in

ice cores and more recent direct measurements, provides evidence that
atmospheric CO2 has increased since the Industrial Revolution.
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Evidence for Climate Change

The current warming trend is of particular

significance because most of it is extremely
likely to be the result of human activity since
the mid-20th century and proceeding at a rate
that is unprecedented over decades to
millennia.

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Evidence for
Climate Change
Global Temperature Rise

• The planet's average surface temperature has risen

about 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 degrees Celsius)
since the late 19th century, a change driven largely by
increased carbon dioxide and other human-made
emissions into the atmosphere.
• Most of the warming occurred in the past 35 years, with
the five warmest years on record taking place since 2010.
• Not only was 2016 the warmest year on record, but eight of
the 12 months that make up the year — from January
through September, with the exception of June — were the
warmest on record for those respective months.

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Evidence for
Climate Change
Warming Oceans

• The oceans have absorbed much of

this increased heat, with the top 700
meters (about 2,300 feet) of ocean
showing warming of more than 0.4
degrees Fahrenheit since 1969.

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Evidence for
Climate Change
Shrinking Ice Sheets

• The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have

decreased in mass.
• Data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and
Climate Experiment show Greenland lost an
average of 286 billion tons of ice per year
between 1993 and 2016, while Antarctica lost
about 127 billion tons of ice per year during the
same time period.
• The rate of Antarctica ice mass loss has tripled
in the last decade. Flowing meltwater from the
Greenland ice sheet

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Evidence for
Climate Change
Glacial Retreat

• Glaciers are retreating almost

everywhere around the world —
including in the Alps, Himalayas,
Andes, Rockies, Alaska and Africa.

The disappearing snowcap of

Mount Kilimanjaro, from space.

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Evidence for
Climate Change
Decreased Snow Cover

• Satellite observations reveal that the

amount of spring snow cover in the
Northern Hemisphere has decreased
over the past five decades and that
the snow is melting earlier.

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Evidence for
Climate Change
Sea Level Rise

• Global sea level rose about 8

inches in the last century.
• The rate in the last two decades,
however, is nearly double that of
the last century and is
accelerating slightly every year.

Republic of Maldives:
Vulnerable to sea level rise

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Evidence for
Climate Change
Declining Arctic Sea Ice

• Both the extent and thickness of

Arctic sea ice has declined
rapidly over the last several
decades.

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Evidence for
Climate Change
Extreme Events

• For the second year in a row, the world’s

strongest typhoon barreled through the
Philippines, Yolanda following on the footsteps
steps of Pablo, a k a Bopha, in 2012.
• And for the third year in a row, a destructive storm
deviated from the usual path taken by typhoons,
striking communities that had not learned to live
with these fearsome weather events because
they were seldom hit by them in the past.
• Sendong in December 2011 and Bopha last year
sliced Mindanao horizontally, while Yolanda
drove through the Visayas, also in a horizontal
direction.
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Evidence for
Climate Change
Ocean Acidification

• Since the beginning of the Industrial

Revolution, the acidity of surface ocean
waters has increased by about 30 percent.
• This increase is the result of humans
emitting more carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere and hence more being
absorbed into the oceans.
• The amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by
the upper layer of the oceans is increasing
by about 2 billion tons per year.

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PHILIPPINE
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND
REGULATIONS

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Environmental Laws and Regulation

• RA 8749 (Clean Air Act of 1999)

• RA 9275 (Philippine Clean Water Act)
• PD 1586 (Environmental Impact Statement System)
• RA 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous Waste Control Act)
• RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act)
• RA 9512 (Environmental Education Act 2008)

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RA 8749 (Clean Air Act of 1999)

http://119.92.161.2/ECA%20Center/RA8749.pdf 34
Environmental Laws and Regulation
RA 8749 (Clean Air Act of 1999)

• The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced
and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.
• The State shall promote and protect global environment to attain
sustainable development while recognizing the primary responsibility of
local government units to deal with environmental problems.
• The state recognizes that the responsibility of cleaning the habitat and
environment is primarily area-based.
• The State also recognizes the principle that “polluters must pay”.
• The State recognizes that a clean and healthy environment is for the good
of all and should, therefore be the concern of all.

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RA 9275 (Philippine Clean Water Act)

http://119.92.161.2/ECA%20Center/RA9275.pdf 36
Environmental Laws and Regulation
What are the prohibited acts under RA 9275 (Philippine Clean Water
Act)

• Discharging or depositing any water pollutant to the water body, or such which will impede
natural flow in the water body.
• Discharging, injecting or allowing to enter into the soil, anything that would pollute
groundwater.
• Operating facilities that discharge regulated water pollutants without the valid required
permits.
• Disposal of potentially infectious medical waste into sea by vessels.
• Unauthorized transport or dumping into waters of sewage sludge or solid waste..
• Transport, dumping or discharge of prohibited chemicals, substances or pollutants listed
under Toxic Chemicals, Hazardous and Nuclear.
• Anyone who commits prohibited acts such as discharging untreated wastewater into any
water body will be fined for every day of violation, the amount of not less than Php 10,000
but not more than Php 200,000.
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PD 1586 (Environmental Impact Statement System)

http://119.92.161.2/ECA%20Center/PD1586.pdf 38
Environmental Laws and Regulation
PD 1586 (Environmental Impact Statement System)
• Declared environmentally critical projects and areas are required to obtain an Environmental Compliance
Certificate before operation
• Environmentally Critical Projects includes heavy industries, resource extractive industries, infrastructure
projects, golf course projects
• Characteristics of Environmentally Critical Areas:
• Areas declared by law as natural parks, watershed reserves, wildlife reserves, and sanctuaries
• Areas set aside as aesthetic, potential tourist spots
• Areas which constitute the habitat for any endangered or threatened species of indigenous Philippine wildlife (flora and fauna)
• Areas of unique historical, archeological, geological or scientific interests
• Areas which are traditionally occupied by cultural communities or tribes
• Areas frequently visited and/or hard hit by natural calamities (geologic hazards, floods, typhoons, volcanic activity, etc.)
• Areas of critical slope
• Areas classified as prime agricultural lands
• Recharged areas of aquifers
• Waterbodies
• Mangrove areas
• Coral reefs

• Violators shall be punished by the suspension of cancellation of his/its certificate and or fine for each violation.
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RA 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous Waste Control Act)

http://119.92.161.2/ECA%20Center/RA6969.pdf
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Environmental Laws and Regulation
RA 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous Waste Control Act)
• To keep an inventory of chemicals that are presently being imported, manufactured, or
used, indicating, among others, their existing and possible uses, test data, names of firms
manufacturing or using them, and such other information as may be considered relevant
to the protection of health and the environment;
• To monitor and regulate the importation, manufacture, processing, handling, storage,
transportation, sale, distribution, use and disposal of chemical substances and mixtures
that present unreasonable risk or injury to health or to the environment in accordance
with national policies and international commitments;
• To inform and educate the populace regarding the hazards and risks attendant to the
manufacture, handling, storage, transportation, processing, distribution, use and disposal
of toxic chemicals and other substances and mixtures; and
• To prevent the entry, even in transit, as well as the keeping or storage and disposal of
hazardous and nuclear wastes into the country for whatever purpose.

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RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act)

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http://119.92.161.2/ECA%20Center/RA9003.pdf
Environmental Laws and Regulation
RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act)

Components and elements of Local Government Solid Waste Management

Plans:
a) Background Information – city profile, estimated population, map of the
city, estimated solid waste generation and projection by source, and
inventory of existing waste disposal.
b) Waste Characterization
c) Source Reduction
d) Recycling
e) Composting
f) Collection and Transfer
g) Processing and Solid Waste Facility Capacity and Final Disposal 43
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https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2008/12/12/republic-act-no-9512/
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2008/12/12/republic-act-no-9512/ 45
End of Lecture…

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