Chapter 7 Module 2

Chapter 7 Module 2: ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
Learning Objectives
At the end of this topic, students will be able to:
1. Identify the causes of climate change
2. Assess the various impacts of climate change including economic,
geopolitical, biological, meteorological, etc.
3. Apply STS concepts to the issue of climate change
PRESENTATION OF CONTENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
One of the main culprits of climate change is increasing CO 2 presence in
the atmosphere, coming from industrial and mobile sources. Shifting from
fossil fuels as sources of energy to renewable energy resources, (e.g., solar,
wind, or hydropower) is one way to decrease the generation of CO 2. spaces
that need air conditioning or heating should be sealed to ensure adequate and
energy efficiency. When buying appliances, such as refrigerators, washing
machines and the like, it is recommended to buy those that are tagged as
energy efficient. Water consumption should also be lessened since pumping
and heating water also uses up energy. Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs are
ideal to use because they lessen up to 80% of energy consumption compared
with incandescent bulbs. Using fuel-efficient vehicles with higher fuel
economy performance is another way to lessen fuel economy performance is
another way to lessen fossil fuel consumption (Denchack, 2017). There are
many ways to minimize he effects of climate change. Environmental efforts to
address climate change should be done individually collectively. Since the
environment is contiguous, the responsibility to care for it should also be
shared not only locally but also regionally and globally. Countries should come
together to adopt protocols and agreements so to help each other solve
climate change.
Light Bulb energy saving statistics.
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement that extends the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in which
Philippines is one of the signatories. This protocol commits each signatory or
member by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets. This
was adopted in 1997, but the first commitment period started in 2008 and
ended in 2012. In order to be sustainable without jeopardizing the need of
energy for economic growth, developed countries committed to cut their CO 2
emissions by 2% up until 2050 to help address the problem of climate change.
It is estimated that by 2050, the world will have an approximate 80% reduction
on CO2 emissions (Pacala, 2009).
The Montreal Protocol is another global agreement set to protect the
stratospheric ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of
ozone depleting substances (ODS). The protocol aims to help the ozone layer
recuperate from the hole it has attained due to increasing presence of ODS in
the atmosphere. It is signed by 197 countries including the Philippines
(USEPA, 2017).
Disaster Risk Management

When the Philippines was struck by typhoon Haiyan (locally called
typhoon Yolanda) in November 2013, the death toll reached 6,340. Many
blamed the lack of disaster risk reduction efforts for the extreme damages the
typhoon brought to the country, especially in the regions where the typhoon
made a landfall. The government was also blamed for the lack of or weak
evacuation plans in different localities. In Tacloban, Leyte, government aid
was slow. Many resorted to looting shops, and cadavers were strewn all over
the city. Because of the extent of the damage, the city was not easily
reachable which made the distribution of relief goods difficult. However, with a
proper disaster risk reduction management plan, the destructive effects of the
typhoon could have been reduced if not avoided.
What happened to Tacloban during typhoon Haiyan is an example of why
disaster risk management plans should be established. With the coming of
more intense typhoons because of climate change and with the geographical
vulnerability of the Philippines to a number of typhoons every year, it is
important for the country to establish measures to mitigate the effects of
natural disasters for the benefit of the citizens. In the aftermath of typhoon
Haiyan, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan
(NDRRMP) of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC) of the Philippines for 2011-2018 was revisited and prioritized. This
is a plan that guides the country on how sustainable development can be
achieved through inclusive growth while building the adaptive capacities of
communities, increasing the resilience of vulnerable sectors, and optimizing
disaster mitigation opportunities with the end in view of promoting people’s
welfare and security. It aims to strengthen the capacity of the national
government and the local government units (LGUs), together with partner
stakeholders, to build the disaster resilience of communities and to
institutionalize arrangements and measures for disaster risks, including
projected climate risks and enhancing disaster preparedness and response
capabilities at all levels
SUMMARY
The last module of Science, Technology and Society discussed the special
topics that would allow you to reflect on the role of science and technology not
only in the community where you are living but to the whole world.
The advent of information age has played a big role in cascading vital
information to the society. With the advance technological devices like
computers, laptops, cellular phones, personal digital assistants, servers,
mainframes and internet that lets us access social media and online
resources, and even microchips and other high technologies, the life that we
are living today is easy. Information age has affected and transformed the
lives we have. From communicating through simple ways like papyrus, letter
writing etc., we have shifted to calling through mobile phones, sending files
through email, chatting with our love ones through video calls, etc. Highly
modernized, automated, data-driven and technologically advanced-these is
how we describe our society nowadays. This era of our life offers us a lot for
the development of noble researchers but it also entails responsible use. You
must learn how to check the reliability of the sources you are accessing
before dissemination for those information poses both positive and negative
impacts. You must always consider that the information you share could be of
great help to our lives and others.
Advances in science and technology have also affected our biodiversity.
Some efforts have been made by the government to conserve all species.
Threats like habitat loss and destruction, alterations in ecosystem
composition, over-exploitation, pollution, contamination, and global climate
change has cause drastic decrease in the population of species all over the
world. The decrease has led to environment-related illnesses, nutritional,
health and biological problems. Together we must be all biodiversity savers to
have a better environment.
Scientist has made advances in technology through the field of
nanotechnology. Through this, products can be manufactures to help improve
health, environment, food, water, and agriculture. Though this field promises a
lot, you must take into account the social, ethical, and environmental concerns
of using such.
Another breakthrough in science is gene therapy. Gene therapy is a method
that may treat or cure genetic related human illness. As this science flourish,
many ethical issues were raised. Thus, as a future researcher, you must be
able to distinguish what is vital if you wished to venture in the field of
nanotechnology.
Climate change is a worldwide issue that each of us must face. Several
factors like natural processes and persistent human activities have statistically
increased the percentage of climate change for a period of time. The
continuous climate change has affected the biotic and abiotic aspects of the
earth.

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Chapter 7 Module 2: ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

Disaster Risk Management

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