CLIMAT

CHANG

Sept 27, 2009 - Mindoro Occidental

Climate Change:
our changing world

What is climate change?

Climate change is a change in
climate which is attributed directly to
human activity that alters the
composition of the global atmosphere
and which is in addition to natural
climate variability observed over
comparable time periods.

(United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate Change
[UNFCCC]

What causes

climate change?

Climate change

is caused by both
natural events and
human activities

Human activities
can also cause climate
change
Scientists now agree that
most of the global warming
today have been caused by
human activities

Human activities that lead to

the increase in concentration of
greenhouse gasses include:
Burning of fossil fuel
Deforestation
Increasing industrial activity
Motor vehicle emission
Improper waste management
practices
Intensive agriculture

Examples of ordinary human

activities that send greenhouse
gases into the air?

Watching television
Driving a car
Playing video game
Listening to stereo
Using washing machine
Using microwave oven

To be able to understand
climate change is to
understand first the
concept of the

greenhouse
effect.

What are

and how is it related to

climate change?

GREENHOUSE
GASES
People, plants and animals need
heat from the sun in order to survive.
However, as global population
grows, more and more people
contribute to the increase of gases
that get trapped into the atmosphere.
These trapped gases are called

greenhouse gases (GHGs)

GREENHOUSE
Greenhouse gases
GASES

So GHGs act
much like a
blanket to keep
us warm

Greenhouse gases
(GHGs) trap heat
from the sun to keep
the Earth warm.

Methane
Carbon Dioxide

CO2

CH4

Nitrous Oxide

NO2
SF6

H2O
Water vapor

HFCs

Increasing levels of GHGs

in the atmosphere make
for a warmer world
leading
to abrupt changes in
climate!

CO2
N2O CO2
CO2 HFCs
N2O
CO2 CH4
CH4
HFCs
N2O PFCs
SF6CO2
CH
CO2 4 CH4
CO2CO2
SF6 CO2
CO2 CO
SF6
2

PFCs

The Greenhouse

Global Warming
As earths temperature
gets warmer, this
causes problems for
humans, plants and
animals

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.
Whats it all We are causing
this dangerous
about?
trend.
To summarize

Climate and Weather

Is there any
difference??

Weather
Daily conditions,
including temperature
and rainfall
Can change very
rapidly from day to
day, and from year
to year
Change in weather
condition is a usual
occurrence.

Climate
Average pattern of
weather in a
particular period,
in a particular
region or area.
Usually predictable
as cycle stays the
same for tens,
hundreds, or even
a thousand years.

Are there signs that the

effects of global warming is
actually occurring in the
Philippines?

Climate Change in
the Philippines
Dry seasons
becoming drier
Wet seasons
becoming wetter
KLIMA

El Nio - La Nia
Vulnerability Map

More
precipitation
from
increased
evaporation
due to
higher temp

Annual
mean
precipitatio
n expected
to increase
about 14%
in East Asia
but this is
not
distributed
evenly in
the region

Climate Change in the Philippines

Frequency and severity of typhoons

KLIMA

Risk: Climate
Change (Rainfall)

 Inundate
wetlands and
other low lying
lands

Rising
Sea
Levels

Erode beaches
Intensify flooding
Increase the
salinity of rivers,
bays and
groundwater
tables

Developing
countries,
will be hit soonest
and hardest.
Adaptation provides
the way to prepare for
and respond to
these impacts.
This is
the challenge
we face.

SALTWATER
INTRUSION
2003

What are the impacts of

Climate Change?

Climate Change Impacts

Increase in sea surface temperatures
ofabout 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

Climate Change in the Philippines

Coral bleaching
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Impacts of Climate Change

on human health
We

Cardiovascular and
respiratory disorders

Increase incidence of
dengue fever, malaria and
other water and air-borne
diseases
Skin and eye disorders
Cancers
Weather related deaths
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Impacts on agriculture and food

security
WeWider range of weeds,
insects and crop diseases.

Reduced food supplies

Higher food production cost

and increased prices

Decreased rice yield

Decreased marine fisheries

yield
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Impacts on biological diversity

and ecosystems
We Species extinctions, decline in biological diversity and
changes in the way species interact with one another

Changes in weather patterns alter ocean circulation and

wave patterns affecting productivity, nutrient availability
and marine ecological functions

Sea level rise increase flooding, saltwater intrusion

affecting coastal agriculture, freshwater resources and
fisheries

Decreased rainfall decreased water supply for

irrigation, drought and livestock losses, decreased
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harvest

What can we do to lessen

the release of GHGs into
the atmosphere?

Green Acts
Switch to energy efficient
lamp
When buying appliances,
get those with high energy
efficiency rating
Regularly clean your
cooling appliance such as
electric fan and filters of
air KLIMA
conditioning unit

Green Acts
We

Use water efficiently. Immediately

repair pipes and faucets with leaks.
Water plants very early in the
morning or late at night

Use electricity efficiently. Turn off

electrical appliances when not in
use. Replace old appliances that
do not work properly
KLIMA

Green Acts
Buy locally-produced
organic products. These do
not contain chemicals that
harm the environment
Plant trees. Trees are
natural air purifiers as they
absorb carbon dioxide in
the air
KLIMA

Green Acts
We

Whenever possible, walk or

ride a bicycle instead of
using a car

Reduce, reuse and

recycle. You send less
trash and help save
resources like trees, oil,
aluminum and others
KLIMA

Green Acts
We

Join community activities that promote

environmental awareness such as coastal
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clean-up

What are the government

efforts to address the
challenges posed by the
negative impacts of
climate change?

Republic Act 9729 or the

Climate Change Act of 2009
Signed into law on October 23, 2009
Mainstreams climate change into
government policy formulation
Establishes framework strategy and
program on climate change.
Creates the Philippine Climate
Change Commission

Government Response

Philippine government is doing its best to adapt and

mitigate the impacts of climate change

Steps are being taken to let the Filipinos become

aware of climate change and its negative impacts

The Philippine Climate Change Commission has been

established to oversee programs and projects
directed towards:

We

Improving disaster risk reduction

Knowledge management
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Adaptation and mitigation

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
- mans very survival is at great risk!

CONCLUSION
Climate change action
will require concerted
effort of governments &
their partners (PRIVATE
SECTOR. NGOs,
communities,
development partners,
and MEDIA) to manage
and adopt to a
changing & more
invasive environment

SHARED
RESPONSIBILITY

Under the framework of

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
1. Reduce carbon
(mitigation)
2. Reduce risk
(adaptation)

Thank you.