Lesson 13: Mandated Topics: o changes in the seasonal timing of increasing sediment and contaminant concen-

Climate Change and the Energy Crisis important biological events are trations after heavy downpours.
Environmental Awareness occurring in response to climate change
In some regions, prolonged periods of high
Unit 1: Climate Change and the Energy Crisis Human activities, especially emissions of heat temperatures associated with droughts contribute
Earth’s Climate trapping greenhouse gases from fossil fuel to conditions that lead to larger wildfires and
 is now changing faster than at any point combustion, deforestation, and land-use change, longer fire seasons.
in the history of modern civilization, are primarily responsible for the climate changes
primarily as a result of human activities observed in the industrial era, especially over the For coastal communities, sea level rise,
last six decades. combined with coastal storms, has increased the
Global Climate Change risk of erosion, storm surge damage, and
 has already resulted in a wide range of The atmospheric concentration of car-bon flooding.
impacts across every region of the dioxide, the largest contributor to human-caused
country and many sectors of the warming, has increased by about 40% over the Extreme heat, sea level rise, and heavy
economy that are expected to grow in industrial era. downpours are affecting infrastructure like
the coming decades roads, rail lines, airports, port facilities, energy
IMPACTS ON SOCIETY infrastructure, and military bases.
Thousands of studies conducted by researchers Impacts related to climate change are evident The capacity of ecosystems like forests, barrier
around the world have documented increases in across regions and in many sectors important to beaches, and wetlands to buffer the impacts of
temperature at Earth’s surface, as well as in society: extreme events like fires, floods, and severe
the atmosphere and oceans. o human health, agriculture and food storms is being overwhelmed.
security, water supply, transportation,
o high temperature extremes and heavy energy, ecosys-tems The rising temperature and changing chemistry
precipitation events are increasing of ocean water is combining with other stresses,
o glaciers and snow cover are shrinking, Climate Change affects human health and such as overfishing and pollution, to alter
and sea ice is retreating wellbeing through more extreme weather events marine-based food production and harm fishing
o seas are warming, rising, and becoming and wildfires, decreased air quality, and diseases communities.
more acidic transmitted by insects, food, and water.
o flooding has become more frequent Some climate changes currently have beneficial
along the U.S. coastline Climate disruptions to agriculture have been effects for specific sectors or regions.
o growing seasons are longer increasing and are projected to become more
o large wildfires occur more frequently severe over this century, a trend that would o longer growing seasons for agriculture
o many species are moving to new diminish the security of America’s food supply. and longer ice-free seasons for shipping
on the Great Lakes
locations
Surface and groundwater sup-plies in some o longer growing seasons, along with
regions are already stressed, and water quality is higher temperatures and carbon dioxide
diminishing in many areas, in part due to levels, can increase pollen production,
 intensifying and lengthening the allergy NOTE: Scientific assessments indicate that the
season cost of inaction now will be more costly in the The Project aims:
o longer ice-free periods on the Great future. Thus, economic development needs to be  to develop the resiliency and test
Lakes can result in more lake-effect shifted to a low-carbon emission path. adaptation strategies that will develop
snowfalls the resiliency of farms and natural
In 1992, the United Nations Framework resource manage-ment to the effects of
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was climate change
adopted as the basis for a global response to the  funded by the Global Environ-mental
problem. Facility(GEF) through the World Bank
Adaptation  the Adaptation to Climate Change and
 actions to prepare for and adjust to The Philippines signed the UNFCCC on 12 Conservation of Biodiversity Project
changing climate conditions—thereby June 1992 and ratified the international treaty and the National Framework Strategy
reducing negative impacts or taking on 2 August 1994. on Climate Change (envisioned to
advantage of new opportunities develop the adaptation capacity of
 can minimize the consequences of Presently, the Convention enjoys near-universal communities), both funded by the GTZ,
changes that are already happening as a membership, with 194 Country Parties. Germany
result of past and present emissions
UNFCCC has set out an overall framework for
Mitigation intergovernmental efforts to consider what can
 involves efforts to reduce the amount be done to reduce global warming and to cope
and speed of future climate change by with whatever temperature increases are
limiting emissions or removing carbon inevitable. Unit 2: Environmental Awareness
dioxide from the atmosphere Environmentalism (Envionmentalist
 can reduce future risks Its ultimate objective is to stabilize greenhouse Movement)
gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level  an ideology that evokes the necessity
Climate Change that will prevent dangerous human interference and responsibility of humans to respect,
 one of the most fundamental challenges with the climate system. protect, and preserve the natural world
ever to confront humanity from its anthropogenic (caused by
 its adverse impacts are already being humans) afflictions
seen and may intensify exponentially In the Philippines, there are now a number of
over time if nothing is done to reduce assisted climate change adaptation Millennium Environmental Awareness
further emissions of greenhouse gases Development Goals Fund 1656: Strengthening  an integral part of the movement’s
 decisively dealing NOW with climate the Philippines Institutional Capacity to Adapt to success
change is key to ensuring sustainable Climate Change funded by the Government of
development, pover-ty eradication and Spain, the Philippine Climate Change HOW TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL
safeguarding economic growth Adaptation program-mes and projects that are AWARENESS
being implemented.
 o have a thorough understanding of million tons of plastic waste was wind), if not for your home then maybe
environmental issues created for a community center. This supports a
o stay up to date on environmental news  waste ends up all over the globe transition to clean and renewable
o read books and other resources in both land and water, a good energy.
o learn about the issues affecting your example is the Great Pacific
own community Garbage Patch  buy reusable products such as glass
 the production of plastic is also bottles, reusable bags and reusable cups.
Examples of Environmental Issues dependent on fossil fuel Avoid buying disposable goods such as
 Oil Drilling combustion paper towels, plastic bottles, and plastic
 causes a great deal of bags
environmental destruction  according to the U.S. Energy  start composting and recycling, which
 oil spills and offshore drilling Information Admi-nistration will help cut down our waste production
poison marine life (EIA) in 2010, 191 million  support local businesses and farmers,
 oil drilling (on land) suffocates barrels of liquid petroleum and buy organic and pesticide-free food
the earth gases(LPG) and natural gas when you can or start your own
 the combustion of fossil fuels liquids (NGL) were used in the community garden
add to the increased atmospheric U.S. alone to produce plastic
CO₂, which in turns causes the goods Promoting environmental awareness is a
progres-sion of global warming crucial part of being an environmental steward.
and ocean acidification SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE Start participating in the change and teach your
 engage your community, family, and community what is needed to create a
 Deforestation friends in a conversation about the sustainable future.
 causes wildlife and biodiversity issue’s urgency and importance.
extinction because the loss of  find opportunities to participate in
habitat threatens many species’ communal projects or to get involved in
existence other related causes.
 the International Union for
Conservation of Nature MAKE A DIFFERENCE
(IUCN) has a Red List of  instead of driving to work or school,
environmentally threaten-ed take the bus, carpool, walk, or ride your
species with up-to-date bike to cut down on greenhouse gas
information. emissions
 according to the EPA, transpor-tation
 Production of Plastic Goods adds to 33% of the total atmospheric
 according to the CO₂
Environmental Protection  consider investing in appropriate
Agency (EPA) in 2010 alone 31 technology like clean power (solar or