CLIMITE CHANGE AND

ENERGY CRISIS
 WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE?
 Climate change refers to the change in global or regional patterns.It is a
cath-all term shift in worldwide weather phenomena associated with an
increase in global average temperature.

 Climate Change,also called global warning ,refers to the rise to the in

average surface temperature on earth.

 NASA defines climate change as: ”a broad range of global range of global
phenomena created predominantly by burning fossil fuels which add heal-
trapping gases to Earths atmosphere.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF CLIMATE
CHANGE?
 Most climate scientist agree that the main cause of current global
warming trend is human expansion of the “greenhouse effect”-
warming the results when atmosphere traps heat radaiting from Earth
toward space.

 Life on Earth is dependent in an atmospheric “greenhouse”-a layer of

gases primarily water vapor ,in the lower atmosphere that trap heat
from the sun as it’s reflected back from the Earth,radiating it back and
keeping our planet at a temperature capable of supporting life.
 Greenhouse gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect include water
vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.
Water Vapor- The most abundant greenhuose gas,but importantly, acts as a
feedback to the climate. Water vapor increases as the Earth’s atmosphere,
important feedback mechanism to the greenhouse effect.

Cardon dioxide (C02)- A minor but very important component of the

atmosphere, cardon dioxide is released through natural processes such as
respiration and volcano eruptions and through human activities such as
deforestation, land use changes, and burning fossil fuels.
Methane- A hydrocarbon gas produced both through natural sources and
human activities, including the decomposition of wastes in landfills,
agriculture, and especially rice culturation, as well as ruminent digestion and
manure managemment associated with domestic livestock.

Nitrous oxide- A powerful greenhouse gas produced by soil cultivation

practices, especially the use of commercial and organic fertilizers, fossil fuel
combustion, nitric acid production, and biomass burning.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)- Synthetic compounds entirely of industrial
origin used in a number of applications, but now largely regulated in
production and release to the atmosphere by international agreement for
their ability to contribute to destruction of ozone layer.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE?

The effects of anthropogenic (human-caused) climate change ranged from

more frequent and severe droughts to snowstorms and extreme winter
weather in temperate regions as a result of warming Arctic weather fronts.

It's not only humans that are affected. Warming ocean temperatures are
increasing the frequency of coral reef bleaching; warmer, drier weather means
that forests in some regions are no longer recovering from wildfires and
wildlife habitats around the world are becoming less hospitable to animals.
 
 HOW IS CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTING
PHILIPPINES?
The Global Climate Risk Index listed the Philippines as the number one
most affected country by climate change because of its geography. The
Philippines is located in the Western Pacific Ocean surrounded by naturally
warm waters that will likely even get warmer as average sea-surface
temperature continue to rise.
To some extent, this is a normal pattern: the ocean surface warms as it
absorbs sunlight. The ocean then releases some of its heat into the
atmosphere creating 'wind and rainclouds. However, as the ocean's surface
increases over time from the effects of climate change, more and more
heat is released into the atmosphere. This additional heat in the ocean and
air can lead to stronger and more frequent storms. This is what has
happened to the Philippines. Five of the deadliest typhoons have occurred
since 2006 affecting and displacing thousands of citizens every time. The
deadliest storm on record in the Philippines is typhoon Yolanda which was
responsible for more than 6300 lost lives, over 4 million displaced
citizens, and 2 billion peso damages in 2013.
The Philippines also lacks natural barriers; as a collection of over 7,000 islands
there is almost nothing standing between them and the sea. In addition to their
coral reefs, one of the best buffers against typhoons are the Philippine mangrove
ecosystems. These mangroves help mitigate the impact of storm surge and stabilize
soil but almost half of this have disappeared since 1918 due to deforestation.

In the Philippines, the effects of climate change and global warming cannot be
denied. There used to be a clear delineation between the dry and wet weather, or
summer and rainy months. January to June have always been known as the dry
months while the rest were wet months. Summer in the Philippines means hot,
sunny days and temperatures are quite high. Wet months on the other hand are
characterized by typhoons, windy days, and suspended classes. During wet months,
sunny days are unusual, and in fact unexpected. Nowadays, however, the wet and
dry days occur anytime in the year.
1. More intense El Nino- The El Nino phenomenon occurs when the
surface of the ocean waters in the southern Pacific becomes abnormally
warm. In Southeast Asia, it can lead to abnormally dry conditions. El Nino
can also make weather events like storms highly unpredictable. Weather
will have extreme highs and lows, making it "increasingly difficult to
predict weather patterns for purposes of planning and normal business
operations" says a WWF-Philippine study.
2. Sea surface temperatures to rise- By the end of the century, sea
surface temperatures are expected to rise by 1 to 4 degrees Celsius. This
can lead to more powerful storms because storms get their strength from
heat rising from the sea. In the Philippines, 4 and 5 degrees Celsius spikes
above the normal sea surface temperature have been recorded. Warmer
seas kill coral reefs and can thus lead to a decline in fish catch, putting
food security in danger.
3. Ocean acidification- The shift in the Ph levels of our oceans can lead to
widespread coral reef death. Because of the imbalance, shrimps are not
able to develop skins, oysters cannot develop shells. Fish larvae mat not be
able to develop bones. This further endangers food security and livelihood.

4. Sea levels to rise by 4 to 6 meters- Current data show an increase in

sea surface heights. Scientists say this is due to the melting of ice sheets in
the southern and northern portions of the globe like Antarctica and
Greenland. Sea level rise by 4 to 6 meters can submerge low-lying
communities like Tacloban City which stands only 3 meters.
5. Tropical cyclones to intensify- The creation of tropical cyclones is
already being recorded in areas where the phenomenon had never been
observed. On November 8, 2013, Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), said to
be the strongest in recorded history, devastated cities in Visayas.

6. Rainfall, river flow, and flooding to intensify- Monsoon rainfall in

the Philippines will reach new highs and lows. Some parts of the country
will make it more difficult for agriculture and aquaculture sectors which
are highly dependent on weather. Philippine cities are already experiencing
unprecedented amounts of rainfall. In Tacloban City, rainfall increased by
25% from 1998 to 2011. More rainfall will lead to more flooding and can
trigger landslides in upland communities.
Climate change also impacts our country's ability to feed
people. Karen Bermejo (2017) wrote:

1. Climate change is altering production ecosystems and compromising

food security and nutrition for millions of people in the Philippines,
according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN
FAO). According to Jose Manuel Fernandez, UN FAO's representative to
the Philippines, due to climate change crop yields are expected to decline
by 25% while catches of main fish species are expected to decline by 40%
in tropical countries like the Philippines.
2. Climate change also affects farmers. Because of too much heat too
much rain crops are ruined. An example of this is the 8-month drought
which affected the Western Visayas region from October 2015 to May
2016 which damaged crops in more than 80,000 hectares farmland and
resulted to more than P2 billion pesos in losses. The drought has also
affected farmers and crops in the provinces of Quezon, Camarines Norte,
Samar, Laguna, and Mindoro.
3. Food security declines. The Global Food Security Index (GSFI)
showed a decline in the Philippines' ranking. From 74th, it dropped to
79th among 113 countries based on the data released by the Economist
Intelligence Unit (EIU).

4. Malnutrition increases. Based on the latest National Nutrition Survey

of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST), malnutrition rate in the Philippines is
also increasing. The Philippines malnutrition rate or stunting among
children under 5 years old has increased 33.4% from just 30.3% in 2013.
What is the Energy Crisis?

The energy crisis is the concern that the world's demands on the limited natural
resources that are used to power industrial society are diminishing as the
demand rises. While they do occur naturally, it can take hundreds of thousands
of years to replenish the stores. Governments and concerned individuals are
working to make the use of renewable resources a priority, and to lessen the
irresponsible use of natural supplies through increased conservation.

The energy crisis is a broad and complex topic. Most people don't feel
connected to its reality unless the price of gas at the pump goes up or there are
lines at the gas station. The reason for this is that there is not a broad
understanding of the complex causes and solutions for the energy crisis.
 
Causes of the Energy Crisis
Some causes of the energy crisis were identified as follows:

1. Overconsumption
The energy crisis is a result of many different strains on our natural resources, not just
one. There is a strain on fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal due to overconsumption -
which then in turn can put a strain on our water and oxygen resources by causing
pollution.

2. Overpopulation
Another cause of the crisis has been the increase in the world's population and its
demands for fuel and products. No matter what type of food or products you choose to
use- from fair trade and organic to those made from petroleum products in a sweat shop
- not one of them is transported without a significant drain in our energy resources.
3.Poor Infrastructure
Aging infrastructure of power generating equipment is yet another reason for
energy shortage. Most of the energy producing firms keep on using updated
equipment that restricts the production of energy. It is the responsibility of
utilities to keep on upgrading the infrastructure and set a high standard of
performance.

4.Unexplored Renewable Energy Options

Renewable energy still remains unused in most countries. Most of the energy
comes from non-renewable sources like coal. It still remains the top choice to
produce energy. Unless we give renewable energy a serious thought, the problem
of energy crisis cannot be solved. Renewable energy sources can reduce our
dependence on fossil fuels and also help reduce greenhouse emissions. 
5. Delay in Commissioning of Power Plants
In few countries, there is a significant delay in commissioning of new power
90 Science, Technology and Society plants that can fill the gap between the
demand and supply of energy. The result is that old plants come under huge
stress to meet the daily demand for power. When supply doesn't match
demand, it results in load shedding and breakdown.

6. Wastage of Energy
In most parts of the world, people do not realize the importance of conserving
energy. It is only limited to books, internet, newspaper ads, lip service and
seminars. Unless we give it a serious thought, things are not going to change.
Simple things like switching off fans and lights when not in use can go a long
way in saving energy.
7. Poor Distribution System
Frequent tripping and breakdown are result of a poor distribution system.

8. Major Accidents and Natural Calamities

Major accidents like pipeline burst and natural calamities like eruption of
volcanoes, floods, earthquakes can also cause interruption to energy
supplies. The huge gap between supply and demand of energy can raise
the price of essential items which can give raise to inflation.
9. Wars and Attacks
Wars between countries can also hamper supply of energy specially if it
happens in Middle East countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE
or Qatar. Price of oil reached its peak causing global shortages and
created major problem for energy consumers.

10.Miscellaneous Factors
Tax hikes, military coup, political events, severe hot summers or cold
winters can cause sudden increase in demand of energy and can choke
supply. A strike by unions in oil-producing firms can definitely cause an
energy crisis.
What are Possible Solutions to the Energy Crisis?

Many of the possible solutions to the energy crisis are already in place, but they
have not been widely adopted. They are:

1. Move towards Renewable Resources

The best possible solution to the energy crisis is to reduce the world's
dependence on non-renewable resources and to improve overall conservation
efforts. The major concern isn't so much that we will run out of gas or oil, but
that the use of coal is going to continue to pollute the atmosphere and destroy
other natural resources in the process of mining the coal that it has to be replaced
as an energy source. This is not easy because many of the leading industries use
coal, not gas or oil, as their primary source of power for manufacturing.
2. Buy Energy Efficient Products
Replace traditional bulbs with CFL's and LED's. They use less watts of
electricity and last longer. If millions of people across the globe use CFL's
and LED's for residential and commercial purposes, the demand for
energy can go down and an energy crisis can be averted.

3. Lighting Controls
There are a number of new technologies that make lighting controls much
more interesting and help save a lot of energy and cash in the long run.
Preset lighting controls, slide lighting, touch dimmers, integrated lighting
controls are few of the lighting controls that can help to conserve energy
and reduce overall lighting costs.
4. Easier Grid Access
People who use different options to generate power must be given
permission to plug into the grid and get credit for power you feed into it.
The hassles of getting credit of supplying surplus power back into the grid
should be removed. Apart from that, subsidy on solar panels should be
given to encourage more people to explore renewable options.

5. Energy Simulation
Energy simulation software can be used by big corporations to redesign
building unit and reduce running business energy cost. Engineers,
architects and designers could use the design to come up with the most
energy efficient building and reduce carbon footprint.
6. Perform Energy Audit
Energy audit is a process that helps to identify the areas where your home or office
is losing energy and identify steps you can take to improve energy efficiency.
Energy audit when done by a professional can help you to reduce your carbon
footprint, save energy and money and avoid energy crisis.

7. Common Stand On Climate Change

Both developed and developing countries should adopt a common stand on
climate change. They should focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions
through an effective cross border mechanism. With current population
growth and overconsumption of resources, the consequences of global
warming and climate change cannot be ruled out. Both developed and
developing countries must focus on emission cuts to cut their emission
levels to half from current trend levels by 2050.