Bulacan State University
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY STS 101
Climate Change: Causes, Impacts, and Issues
5
Title of Lesson: The Truth and Consequences of Climate Change
Time Frame: 6 hours
INTRODUCTION
Extreme weather events have taken their toll on the past decades by taking
more lives and devastating infrastructures. According to a study by Katrin Burkart and
colleagues, 1.7 million deaths worldwide in 2019 were linked to extreme heat and cold
(thelancet.com, August 2021).
Based on climate.nasa.gov (2022), there is growing evidence and almost a
100% consensus for peer-reviewed and high-impact journals on the integrity of climate
change. Academic societies recognize that there will always be uncertainty in fully
understanding the complexity of the Earth’s climate; however, evidence suggests
significant global warming.
One-hundred ninety-eight (198) worldwide scientific organizations have already
expressed their position that human activities significantly impact climate change. The
scientific community has concluded that global temperature rise is a direct result of
greenhouse emissions from human-made sources (opr.ca.gov, 2022).
OBJECTIVES:
Students should be able to:
1. Identify the causes of climate change
2. Assess the various impacts of climate change, including economic, geopolitical,
biological, meteorological, etc.
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3. Apply STS concepts to the issue of climate change.
DISCUSSION
What is Climate Change?
According to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC), climate change means “A change of climate which is attributed directly or
indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere which
is in addition to natural climate variability observed over a comparable period of time.”
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines it as “any change in
climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity”
Causes of Climate Change
Climate is the combination of the long-term meteorological event in each place
and time. Climate is known to have changed several times based on geologic
evidence. Eighteen thousand years ago, vast areas were covered by continental
glaciers. Advancing and retreating glaciers suggest that climate has undergone a slow
but continuous change. At present, less than 10% of these glaciers exist. Human
influence has been the main driver of the global retreat of glaciers since the 1990s
(IPCC, 2021).
Evidence of global climatic change comes from core samples taken from ocean
floor sediments and ice from Greenland and Antarctica. A multi-university research
project known as CLIMAP (Climate: long-range investigation mapping and prediction)
studied the past million years of global climate. Thousands of meters of sediments are
drilled and analyzed for calcium carbonate shells of organisms that once lived near
the surface. Distribution, type of organisms, and oxygen-isotope ratio provide
information on how the glacier advances (Ahrens, 2009).
An interactive map where users can explore and download the available climate
data over the desired area anywhere in the Philippines was conceptualized and
developed through the DOST-funded project: Development of high-resolution
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observation-based gridded sub-daily climate data for the Philippines (ClimGridPh),
which is a component of the DOST-PAGASA’s program, Scaling Up Climate
Information Services for Societal Benefits (CLIM’ UP) being monitored by the DOST-
PCIEERD. CliMap will primarily serve the public in providing the daily and sub-daily
gridded dataset of surface climate variables, which are the main outputs of the project.
Currently, these datasets are under development (bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph, 2022)
Climate change can be caused by three things,
1. Change in the amount of incoming solar energy
2. Changes in the Earth’s atmosphere
3. Changes that happen on the surface of the Earth
In geologic history, Earth’s surface has undergone extensive
modification due to tectonic movement. Change in latitude and elevation due to
tectonic movement may explain climate change in the past. Due to plate tectonics,
volcanic activity also increased, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere. Changes in the
circulation patterns of the ocean and the atmosphere that redistribute energy also
contribute to climate change (Ahrens, 2009). Due to our large population, human
Activities such as emission of greenhouse gases, denudation of forests, depletion of
natural resources, pollution, and mining have a big impact on the changes in the
Earth’s atmosphere and surface.
The greenhouse effect due to CO2 causes global temperature rise.
The greenhouse effect happens when certain gases—known as greenhouse gases—
such as water vapor, ozone, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxide,
and fluorinated gases, sometimes known as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), collect in
Earth’s atmosphere (education.nationalgeographic.org, 2022).
The increase in greenhouse gases since 1750 are undeniably caused by
human activities. Based on climate model projections, global warming of 1.5°C and
2°C will be exceeded during the 21st century unless deep reductions in CO 2 and other
greenhouse gas emissions occur in the coming decades. (IPCC, 2021).
In response to this threat, an agreement was adopted by 196 members of the
Conference of the Parties (COP) (countries that signed the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that came into force in 1994) in Paris on
12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016. Its goal is to limit
global warming to below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-
industrial levels (unfcc.int, 2022).
Impacts of Climate Change
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According to pagasa.gov.ph (2022), climate change would most likely impact
our water resources, forestry, agriculture, coastal resources, and health. Regions that
have decreased rainfall will experience water shortages that will affect forestry,
agriculture, livelihood, health, and human settlement. Longer dry spells will affect the
amount of water in dams that provide irrigation, drinking water, water for domestic use,
and hydroelectric energy. Flooding would likely follow in areas that will experience
heavy rains, flooding, landslides, and mudslides. This will impact infrastructures and
transportation.
Based on the Philippine Climate Change Assessment Report (2017), Probably
more than temperature change, climate change-induced variability of rainfall is likely
to have the greatest impact on the country. The days with heavy rainfall in the latter
part of the 20th century appear higher than the corresponding occurrence in the early
part of the 20th century. Evidence shows that the intensity of extreme rainfall events
is changing.
Climate change will also take its toll on local flora and fauna survival. Extreme
drought will push to the extinction of susceptible species. Drier periods and warmer
temperatures may lead to frequent forest fires. Farmers and fisher folks are vulnerable
sectors to climate change. Decreases in crop yields and fish catch are expected.
Fishes may seek cooler and deeper waters that force fishers to travel further from the
coast. Incidents or outbreaks of pests and diseases would most likely happen due to
temperature increases and rainfall changes.
Sea level rise would most likely happen due to climate change and will hugely
impact coastal resources. Impact on health due to climate change includes the spread
of water-borne diseases, heat stroke, and pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases,
especially to children and the elderly.
What can be done
Based on the Special Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC, 2012), the character and severity of impacts from climate extremes
depend not only on the extremes themselves but also on exposure and vulnerability
(see figure 1).
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Fig. 1 (Source: https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/03/SREX_FD_SPM_final-2.pdf)
The IPCC 2012 provides adaptation and disaster risk management approaches for
reducing and managing disaster risk in a changing climate (see figure 2).
Fig. 2 (Source: https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/03/SREX_FD_SPM_final-2.pdf)
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According to Asian Development Bank (2014), while hard technologies will
have a critical role in helping societies reduce the risk from climate change, they are
not the only solution. Soft technologies, such as improved management practices, will
also be important in climate change adaptation, as will other factors like education,
capacity building, governance, and cultural practices.
The Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources developed a Training Manual on Climate Proofing for
Development (CP4D) as part of its initiative on capacity development for climate
change adaptation.
SUMMARY
This chapter emphasize the following:
● There is a consensus among scientists that climate change is real and human
activities have a significant impact to it.
● Climate change has occurred several times based on geologic evidence.
● Global temperature rise is a direct consequence of greenhouse gas emissions due
to human activities.
● Climate change affects our ecosystem, livelihood, safety, and health.
● Education, capacity building, governance, and cultural practice are important to
climate change adaptation and mitigation.
REFLECTION
Leonardo de Caprio, an actor, and UN Messenger of Peace once said, “Climate
Change is real. It is happening right now; it is the most urgent, threat facing our entire
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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY STS 101
species and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating.” Write your
reflection based on this statement below.
Answer:
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SUGGESTED READINGS AND WEBSITES
https://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/
https://www.opr.ca.gov/facts/scientific-consensus.html
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01860-
2/fulltext#articleInformation
https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/information/climate-change-in-the-philippines
https://www.climate.gov.ph/news/207
https://bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/climate/climate-change/dynamic-
downscaling/climap
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/greenhouse-effect
https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/carbon-footprint-
calculator/#:~:text=A%20carbon%20footprint%20is%20the,is%20closer%20to%204
%20tons.
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https://climate.emb.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Climate-Proofing-Trainers-
Toolkit.pdf
https://www.nationalgrid.com/responsibility/environment/cop26#:~:text=COP%20stan
ds%20for%20Conference%20of,came%20into%20force%20in%201994.
https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement
GLOSSARY
Adaptation: In human systems, the adjustment process to actual or expected climate
and its effects to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems,
the process of adjustment to actual climate and its effects, human intervention may
facilitate adjustment to expected climate.
Carbon footprint: A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases
(including carbon dioxide and methane) generated by our actions.
Climate Change: A change in the state of the climate identified (e.g., by using
statistical tests) by changes in the mean and the variability of its properties that persists
for an extended period, typically decades or longer. Climate change may be due to
natural internal processes, external forcings, or persistent anthropogenic changes in
the composition of the atmosphere or land use.
Climate Extreme (extreme weather or climate event): The occurrence of a value of
a weather or climate variable above (or below) a threshold value near the upper (or
lower) ends of the range of observed values of the variable. For simplicity, both
extreme weather and climate events.
Disaster: Severe alterations in the normal functioning of a community or a society due
to hazardous physical events interacting with vulnerable social conditions, leading to
widespread adverse human, material, economic, or environmental effects that require
an immediate emergency response to satisfy critical human needs and that may
require external support for recovery.
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Exposure: The presence of people, livelihoods, environmental services and
resources, infrastructure, or economic, social, or cultural assets in places that could
be adversely affected.
Disaster Risk: The likelihood over a specified time of severe alterations in the normal
functioning of a community or a society due to hazardous physical events interacting
with vulnerable social conditions, leading to widespread adverse human, material,
economic, or environmental effects that require an immediate emergency response to
satisfy critical human needs and that may require external support for recovery.
Disaster Risk Management: Processes for designing, implementing, and evaluating
strategies, policies, and measures to improve the understanding of disaster risk, foster
disaster risk reduction, and transfer, and promote continuous improvement in disaster
preparedness, response, and recovery practices, with the explicit purpose of
increasing human security, well-being, quality of life, resilience, and sustainable
development.
Resilience: The ability of a system and its parts to anticipate, absorb, accommodate,
or recover from the effects of a hazardous event in a timely and efficient manner,
including by ensuring the preservation, restoration, or improvement of its essential
basic structures and functions.
Transformation: The altering of fundamental attributes of a system (including value
systems; regulatory, legislative, or bureaucratic regimes; financial institutions; and
technological or biological systems).
Vulnerability: The propensity or predisposition to be adversely affected.
REFERENCES
Ahrens, C.D. (2009) Meteorology Today: An Introduction to Weather, Climate, and
the Environment 9th Edition
Asian Development Bank (2014). "Technologies to support climate change
adaptation in developing Asia: Executive Summary," ADB, Mandaluyong
(Philippines)
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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY STS 101
Cruz, R.V. et al. (2017). "2017 Philippine Climate Change Assessment: Impacts,
Vulnerabilities and Adaptation," M. Lopez Center for Climate Change Adaptation and
Disaster Risk Management Foundation, Inc and Climate Change Commission
DOST-PAGASA, Manila Observatory and Ateneo de Manila University (2021).
Philippine Climate Extremes Report 2020: Observed and Projected Climate Extremes
in the Philippines to Support Informed Decisions on Climate Change Adaptation and
Risk Management. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration, Quezon City, Philippines. 145pp.
DOST-PAGASA (2018). Observed and Projected Climate Change in the Philippine.
Philippines Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration,
Quezon City, Philippines. 36 pp.
IPCC (2021). Summary for Policymakers. In: Climate Change 2021: The Physical
Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Masson-Delmotte, V., P. Zhai, A. Pirani,
S. L. Connors, C. Péan, S. Berger, N. Caud, Y. Chen, L. Goldfarb, M. I. Gomis, M.
Huang, K. Leitzell, E. Lonnoy, J.B.R. Matthews, T. K. Maycock, T. Waterfield, O.
Yelekçi, R. Yu and B. Zhou (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press. In Press.PAGASA
Reports
IPCC (2012). Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance
Climate Change Adaptation. A Special Report of Working Groups I and II of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Field, C.B., V. Barros, T.F. Stocker, D.
Qin, D.J. Dokken, K.L. Ebi, M.D. Mastrandrea, K.J. Mach, G.-K. Plattner, S.K. Allen,
M. Tignor, and P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, and
New York, NY, USA, 582 pp.
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