CHAPTER

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
13
OBJECTIVES:

After studying the chapter, the students shall 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 CO2. 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.
 Figure 19. 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 CO2 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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