MODULE 14

CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY

CRISIS

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to:

• Explain the reasons for environmental awareness.

• Show the role of education, particularly the schools, in making people environmentally
aware.
• Demonstrate their level of environmental awareness through actions.

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 20 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 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 CAUSES 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 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. ([Link]
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. This is what has happened to the Philippines. Five of the deadliest
typhoons have occurred since 2006 affecting and displacing thousands of citizens every time. The
deadliest storm on record in the Philippines is typhoon Yolanda which was responsible for more
than 6300 lost lives, over 4 million displaced citizens, and 2 billion peso damages in 2013.

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 of this have disappeared since 1918 due
to deforestation.

Other natural factors, like regional wind patterns or currents, also increase the risk of tropical
storms. Sea levels in the Philippines are rising at about twice the global average and when it rises
to 15 20 feet, as what happened during typhoon Yolanda millions of citizens in coastal
communities in the Philippines have been displaced.

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.
Pia Ranada (January 22, 2014) stated six ways by which climate change affects our country:
([Link] 45899-six-ways-climatechange-affects-phil/

1. intense El Nino more

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. In Southeast Asia, it can lead to
abnormally dry conditions. El Nino can also make weather events like storms highly
unpredictable. Weather will have extreme highs and lows, making it “increasingly difficult to
predict weather patterns for purposes of planning and normal business operations” says a
WWFPhilippine study.

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 strongest 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. Philippine cities are already experiencing unprecedented amounts of rainfall. In
Tacloban City, rainfall increased by 25% from 1998 to 2011. More rainfall will lead to more
flooding and can trigger landslides in upland communities.

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 FAO'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 nature resources that are
used to power industrial society are diminishing as the demand no 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 conserned individuals are working to make the use of
renewable resources a priority, and to lessen the irresponsible use of natural supplies through
increased conservation.
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 g 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

[Link] 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.

[Link] 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 problem 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 fighting 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.
With current population growth and overconsumption of resources, the consequences of global
warming and climate change cannot be ruled out. Both developed and developing countries must
focus on emission cuts to cut their emission levels to half from current trend levels by 2050.

MODULE 14

ASSESSMENT TASK
1. Why is the study of climate change important?
2. What are the causes of climate change?
3. How has climate change affected our country? List down some effects
and describe them. If possible, clip some pictures.
4. What is green house effect?
5. Give your own understanding of energy crisis.
6. Do you agree with given causes of the present energy crisis?
Defend your view/side
7. What are possible solutions to the energy crisis?