CHAPTER IV:
CLIMATE CHANGE
AND ENERGY CRISIS
Joelyn Gadil, Ian Flores, Rey Villaflores,
Aaron Espina
Introduction:
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 regional
patterns, in particular, a change apparent from the mid to
late 20th century onwards and attributed 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 defines 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 include the increased temperature trends
described by global warming, but also encompasses changes
such as sea level rise, ice mass loss in Greenland, Antarctica,
the Arctic and mountain glaciers worldwide, shifts in
flower/plant blooming; and all extreme weather events.
What are the cause of Climate Change?
• Most climate scientists agree that the main cause of current
global warming trend is human expansion of the
"greenhouse effect" - warming that results when the
atmosphere traps heat radiating 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.
Human activity is currently generating an excess of long-lived
greenhouse gases, that unlike water vapor, don't dissipate in
response to temperature increases, resulting in a continuing
buildup of heat. Greenhouse gases that contribute to the
greenhouse effect include water vapor, carbon dioxide,
methane and nitrous oxide.
• Water Vapor. The most abundant greenhouse gas, but importantly, acts 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.
• Carbon dioxide (CO2). A minor but very important component of the
atmosphere, carbon 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. 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.
• 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 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.
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. They are also
greenhouse gases. Our warming climate is also creating a
feedback loop as greenhouse gases trapped in Arctic
permafrost are released.
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 the
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 (https://www.
climaterealityproject.org/how-climate-change-affect-
Philippines/)
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.
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 ot
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. The energy created by this is so great
that it can create an imbalance in the weather in the different parts of the world.
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 strangest 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.
• 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 FAQ'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 74", it dropped to
79 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?
• 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
(Wikipedia).
• 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. These natural resources are in limited
supply. 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.
• You sent
• 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 energy crisis is ongoing and getting
worse despite many efforts. 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 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, using maximum daylight, walking
instead of driving for short distance, using CFL instead of traditional bulbs, proper
insulation for leakage of energy 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 problemn 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. Much of the
industrial age was created using fossil fuels, but there is also known technology that
uses other types of renewable energies such as steam, solar, and wind. 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.
pogi ni rovic hahahaha
THANK YOU!!!