QUEZON MEMORIAL ACADEMY

Progreso St. Poblacion West Umingan, Pangasinan

Trends, Networks, and Critical Thinking in

the 21st Century Culture
Week 7- Second Semester

I. Title: PLANETARY NETWORKS

II. Objectives:
After going through this module, students are expected to:
A. Explain planetary networks on the aspect of climate change;
B. Explain the effects of consumption and production patterns that contribute to climate change;
C. Analyze how production and consumption habits contribute to climate change; and
D. Write a resolution about how you can personally contribute toward solving problem of climate change.

III. Anticipatory Guide:

The concept of planetary network emphasizes that everything on Earth are interconnected. Whatever happens
to one element on Earth has effect to the remaining components.
IV. Lesson Content:
Climate Change and Global Warming
Various kinds of networks are within you and around you, stimulating and triggering your thoughts and actions,
influencing your attitudes and behavior, which in turn affect the people around you, your environment, and ultimately the
world. Actions which transpire in the realm of local networks can produce consequences that penetrate and affect global
networks. But it does not stop here. There is another kind of network, a wider one, which your thoughts and actions can
reach and influence the planetary networks.
PLANETARY NETWORKS
Refers to the interconnections and interrelations among the various elements in the natural environment enveloping and
affecting Earth as well as elements beyond Earth’s surface. It includes the rain, the wind, the sun’s rays, and other
climate-related elements.
Global Warming, which is the rising of global average temperature of Earth’s surface due to the thinning of the
ozone layer in Earth’s stratosphere.
The depletion of the ozone layer is caused by human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels (coal,
natural gas, and petroleum) which emit carbon dioxide and other dangerous gases called greenhouse gases
(GHG).
Ozone is made up of three oxygen atoms (O3) while ordinary has two (O2). Down the atmosphere, ozone
is deadly but does not last long. Ozone stays high up in the atmosphere where it is formed, and its huge quantity is
enough to form a shield for Earth against the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Ultraviolet rays can cause cornea
damage and skin cancer; stunt the growth and food manufacturing process of green plants; and destroy the
floating microorganisms at the base of the ocean food chain.
Global warming is causing alterations in the climate patterns and weather cycles of Earth. Climate change refers to the
major changes in the climate that last for long periods of time, up to decades or more. It is easy to relate that global
warming causes climate change. In your science classes, you have learned that climate refers to the prevailing set of
atmospheric conditions such as temperature and humidity of a place within a span of time. It is the large-scale and long-
term interaction of different factors such as sunlight, precipitation, fires, volcanic eruptions, industrial emissions, ocean
waves, and breathing of humans. Weather is the atmospheric condition involving hot or cold, rainy or dry, cloudy or
clear sky, and stormy or calm in a short period of time. Weather is easier to forecast than climate.
El Niño and La Niña are phenomena that generally affect areas surrounding the Pacific Ocean. El Niño
happens when the warmer-than-average surface water moves eastward and settles in the tropical eastern Pacific,
resulting in unusual heavier rainfall in the northwestern parts of South America. Warmer ocean surface allows
convection to happen, thus brewing rains and storms. On the other side of the Pacific (which includes Australia,
Indonesia, and the Philippines), areas experience drier and hotter conditions, sometimes leading to drought.
The La Niña event is the opposite in a way that western Pacific areas experience warmer-than-average
surface water, leaving eastern Pacific cooler-than-average with more upwelling of cold water from the deep
ocean. The result is that western Pacific areas experience more rains and storms while the eastern Pacific areas are
drier.
Sociologist Charles Harper (2001) enumerates some of the threatening impacts of climate change:
Reduction of agricultural yield and grain productivity which can lead to food shortage.
Rise of sea level which will endanger the population living in the coastal areas, will submerge rice farms in the
river deltas, and will push high tides and storm surges further inland.
Decrease in freshwater supply caused by reduced stream flow and water salinity will make upstream movement.
Increase in human health risks posed by heat stress as well as wider and faster spread of tropical illnesses.
Consistent warming patterns mean an increase in energy consumption for air-conditioning, hydropower shortage,
and diminished revenue from fisheries and tourism.
Enormous cost of prevention, rehabilitation, and adaptation to climate change can take a heavy toll on the global
economy.
Consumption and Production Patterns Affecting Climate Change
Production patterns refer to how people generate and manufacture the products they need to use, sell, or
consume.
Consumption patterns involve the use of economic or consumer goods and resources. Consumption
patterns can be categorized as individual, family, company, and government consumption.
Spatial planning (the methods or approaches used in the distribution of, among others, people and
activities in spaces if various scales) is central to the management of landscape and ecosystem resiliency. Zoning
or dividing the town or city into sections for various purposes (such as commercial, residential, educational,
governmental, recreational, and botanical and zoological) is salient to spatial planning. This can be initiated by
governments in cooperation with private firms.
Another major cause of climate change which can be associated with production and consumption
patterns is carbon footprint, “a measure of the total amount of carbon dioxide and methane emissions of a
defined population, system, or activity … within the spatial and temporary boundary of the population, system or
activity of interest” (Wright, Kemp, and Williams, 2011).
Carbon offsetting is the reduction of carbon footprint by using other options such as wind or solar
energy. It is said that the best way to diminish carbon footprint is to either cut down the amount of energy
consumed in production or minimize the dependence on carbon-emitting fuels such as coal and petroleum.
Among the energy-generating technologies, hydroelectric, wind, and nuclear power produce the least carbon
dioxide emission per kilowatt hour.
Individual Actions That Can Mitigate Climate Change
 Cigarette Smoking
 Food Wasting
 Irresponsible Use of Energy
Electricity is one of the necessary elements in modern living. Without it, many of the social activities will
generally be paralyzed. Imagine a world deprived of lights, televisions, Internet, air-conditioning units, cell
phones, movies houses, videokes, transistor radios, electric fans, electric ovens, microwave ovens, electric stoves,
refrigerators, cars, trains, airplanes, and many more.
Paper Wasting
Caring for the Environment and Delaying Climate Change
Correcting the wasteful consumption and production patterns is one of the keys to a sustainable
environment and to prevent the worsening of climate change. The responsible use of energy, agricultural and food
resources, forest products, minerals, and aquatic resources can slow down the depletion of natural resources. Not
polluting the environment also contributes to its preservation. Mining companies, for instance, should install
proper waste disposal methods to avoid polluting the river or nearby grounds. Factories should provide efficient
exhaust system for smoke to minimize air pollution.
Mitigation involves practices, policies, and technologies to prevent global warming from getting worse or to slow
it down. It can be accompanied by moderate to huge spending by individuals, firms, and governments.
Adaptation calls for the adjustment of lifestyle and introduction of adaptive changes in the areas of industry,
health, and energy supply that can be easily carried out without huge spending from the government. Everyone is
responsible for delaying climate change.

V. Activity
Expand your understanding:
1. Cite examples of pollution that you have observed in your area. How can you minimize if not eradicate, them
completely?
2. Why should you save energy? List some energy-saving practices you do at home.
3. Are you aware of climate change? Did you feel a sense of fear when you first heard of it? Elaborate your answer.

VI. Assignment
Make a research on a diagram showing greenhouse effect.
LORIELE P. LANTION

Subject Teacher