CHAPTER 4 CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY CRISES

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the students must have:

1. Identify the causes and effects of climate change.

2. Assess the various impacts of climate change including economic, geopolitical, biological,
meteorological, etc.
3. Illustrate how community helps in mitigating the hazards caused by climate change and,
4. Discuss ways on how to conserve and preserve the environment to address impacts of climate
change on society.

Introduction

Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time. It is now more certain than ever, based
on many lines of evidence, that humans are changing Earth’s climate. The atmosphere and oceans have
warmed, accompanied by sea-level rise, a strong decline in Arctic sea ice, and other climate-related
changes. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) absorb heat (infrared radiation) emitted from
Earth’s surface. Increases in the atmospheric concentrations of these gases cause Earth to warm by
trapping more of this heat. Human activities—especially the burning of fossil fuels since the start of the
Industrial Revolution—have increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations by about 40%, with more than
half the increase occurring since 1970.

“Climate Change is one of the fundamental challenges ever to confront humanity. Its adverse effects
being seen may intensify over time if nothing is done about it”.

What is Climate Change?

Climate Change refers to the change in global or region patterns, in particular, a change
apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributes largely to the increased level of
atmospheric carbon dioxide by the use of fossil fuels. It is a catch-all term for the shift in worldwide
weather phenomena associated with an increase in global average temperature. Climate Change, also
called global warming, refers to the rise in average surface temperatures on Earth.

NASA defined climate change as “a broad range of global phenomena created

predominantly by burning fossil fuels which add heat-trapping gases to Earth’s atmosphere. These
phenomena included the increased temperature trends describe by global warming, but also
encompasses changes such as sea level rise, ice mass loos in Greenland, Antarctica, the Arctic and
mountain glaciers worldwide, shifts in flower/plant blooming, and all extreme weather events.

Causes of Climate Change

The causes of climate change could be natural or by human activities (Pawilen, 2018).

Natural Causes Volcanic Eruptions

 Volcanic eruptions are one of the natural causes of climate change. When volcanoes erupt, it
emits different natural aerosols like carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxides, salt crystals, volcanic ashes
or dust, and even microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. The volcanic eruption can cause a
cooling effect to the lithosphere because its emitted aerosol can block a certain percentage of
solar radiation. This cooling effect can last for one to two years.
 What happens in violent volcanic eruptions is the release of ash particles in the
stratosphere. The volcanic ashes which have sulfur dioxide combine with water vapor. It then
forms to sulfuric acid and sulfurous aerosols. The sulfurous aerosols then are transported by
easterly or westerly winds. Volcanoes located near the equator are more likely to cause global
cooling because of the wind pattern. Volcanoes located near to north or south poles are less
likely to cause cooling because of pole wind pattern, the sulfurous aerosols are confined in
pole area.

 Orbital Changes. Earth’s orbit can also cause climate change. This was proposed by the
Milankovitch theory. The Milankovitch theory states “that as the Earth travels through space
around the Sun, cyclical variation in three elements of Earth-Sun geometry combine to produce
variations in the amount of solar energy that reaches Earth (Academic Emporia, 2017).

 The Carbon Dioxide Theory. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is added when power and heat are
produced by burning coal, oil, and other fossil fuels. Carbon Dioxide is transparent to sunshine
but not invisible to infrared (heat) radiation leaving the ground. Carbon dioxide absorbs part of
the infrared radiation in the air and returns it to the ground keeping the air near the surface
warmer than it would be if the carbon dioxide did not act like a blanket. Doubling the carbon
dioxide raises the temperature to 2 C̊ to 3 C̊.

Human Activities

Human activities contribute to climate change, the largest known contribution comes from the
burning of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide gas to the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases and
aerosols affect climate by altering incoming solar radiation and outgoing infrared (thermal) radiation
that are part of Earth’s energy balance. Changing the atmospheric abundance or properties of these
gases and particles can lead to a warming or cooling of the climate system. Human activities result in
emissions of four principal greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide
(N2O) and the halocarbons (a group of gases containing fluorine, chlorine, and bromine). These gases
accumulate in the atmosphere, causing concentrations to increase with time.

Ozone is another greenhouse gas that is continually produced and destroyed in the atmosphere
by chemical reactions. In the troposphere, human activities have increase ozone through the release of
gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide, which chemically react to produce
ozone.

Greenhouse gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect include water vapor, carbon
dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.

1. Water Vapor- The most abundant greenhouse gas, but importantly, act as a feedback to the
climate. Water vapor increases as the Earth’s atmosphere warms, but so does the possibility of
clouds and precipitation, making these some of the most important feedback mechanisms to the
greenhouse effect.

2. Carbon Dioxide- A minor but very important component of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide is
released through natural processes such as respiration and volcanic eruptions and through
human activities such as deforestation, land use changes, and burning fossil fuels. Humans have
increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration by more than a third since the Industrial
Revolution began. The main source of excess carbon dioxide emissions is the burning of fossil
fuels, while deforestation has reduced the amount of plant life available to turn carbon dioxide
to oxygen.

3. Methane- A hydrocarbon gas produced both through natural resources and human activities,
including the decomposition of wastes in landfills, agriculture, and especially rice culturation,
 as well as ruminent digestion and manure management associated with domestic livestock. On
a molecule for molecule basis, methane is a far more active greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide,
but also one which is much less abundant in the atmosphere.

4. Nitrous Oxide- A powerful greenhouse gas produced by soil cultivation practices, especially
the use of commercial and organic fertilizers, fossil fuels combustion, nitric acid production,
and biomass burning.

5. 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. They are
also greenhouse gases.

Our warming climate is also creating a feedback loop as greenhouse gases trapped in Arctic
permafrost are released.

Effects of Climate Change on Society

Climate change could cause severe affects to all life forms around our planet. It direct affects
the basic elements of people’s lives like water, food. Health, use of land, and the environment.

Climate change will increase worldwide deaths from malnutrition and heat stress. Victor-borne
disease such as malaria and dengue fever could become more widespread if effective control measures
are not in place. Rising sea levels may result in more flooded areas each year with a warming of 3 or
40C. There will be serious risks and increasing pressures for coastal protection.

Ecosystem will be particularly vulnerable to climate change, with one study estimating that
around 15-40% of species face extinction with 20C of warming. The consequences of climate change
will become disproportionately more damaging with increased warming. Higher temperatures will
increase the chance of triggering abrupt and large-scale changes that lead to regional disruptions,
migration, and conflict. Warming may induce sudden shifts in regional weather patterns like the
monsoons or the El Niño. Such changes would have severe consequences for water availability and
flooding in tropical regions and threaten the livelihood of billions. Melting or collapse of ice sheets
would raise sea levels and eventually threaten at least 4 million km2 of land, which today is home to
5% of the world’s population.

How is Climate Change Affecting the Philippines?

The Global Climate Risk Index listed the Philippines as the number one most affected country
by climate change, using 2013’s data. This is thanks, in part, to its geography. The Philippines is located
in the western Pacific Ocean, surrounded by naturally warm waters that will likely get even warmer as
average sea-surface temperatures 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 rain clouds. However, as
the ocean’s surface temperature 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 – which is exactly what we’ve seen in the Philippines over the last decade.

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 have disappeared by almost
half since 1918 due to deforestation (an issue for another day).
 Other natural factors, like regional wind patterns or currents, can also increase the risk
of tropical storms. Geography again plays a role here, as these factors affect different areas of
the country differently, due to their unique circumstances. The graphic below from a report by
the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources shows how the various
regions in the Philippines can face a range of climate threats, based on where they sit on the
map.

Pia Ranada (January 22, 2014) stated six ways by which climate change affects our country.

1. More intense El Niño

2. Sea surface temperature to rise
3. Ocean acidification
4. Sea levels to rise by 4 to 6 meters
5. Tropical cyclones to intensify
6. Rainfall, river flow, and flooding to intensify

What is energy crisis?

Energy Crisis is any great bottleneck in the supply of energy resources to an economy. In
popular literature though, it often refers to one of the energy sources used at a certain time and place,
particularly those that supply national electricity grids or serve as fuel for vehicles.

The energy crisis stems from the foreseeable end of the cycle of oil, gas and coal, which, in
addition, have been producing a considerable increase in greenhouse gases (GHG).

In recent years, many scientists have raised their voice to warn about climate change, caused
notably by the burning of oil and coal in order to produce energy.

Global energy consumption is increasing and we will face a shortage of fossil fuels in the
coming decades. Therefore, the availability of reserves is an important source of concern.

Causes of Energy Crises

1. Overconsumption
2. Overpopulation
3. Poor infrastructure
4. Unexplored renewable energy option
5. Delay in commissioning of power plants
6. Wastage of energy
7. Poor distribution system
8. Major accidents and natural calamities
9. Wars and attacks
10. Miscellaneous factors

Possible Solutions to Energy Crisis

1. Move towards renewable resources

2. Buy energy efficient products
3. Lighting controls
4. Easier grid access
5. Energy simulation
6. Perform energy audit
7. Common stand on climate change
ACTIVITY

1. Form a group of 5 members. Each group will prepare a collage made up of pictures based
on how has climate change affected our country.
2. One reporter will be selected to present the collage to the class.

ASSESSMENT TASK

Direction: Answer the following question.

1. What significant contribution can individuals make in response to climate change?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

2. Is climate change preventable?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

3. List down several causes of climate change.

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

4. Give your own understanding of energy crises.

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

5. Do you agree with the given causes of the present energy crises? Defend your view/side.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________