UNDERSTANDING THE

CONSEQUENCES OF
PERSONAL AND LOCAL
ACTION TO GLOBAL AND
PLANETARY CLIMATE
CHANGE
OBJECTIVES

1 . E XPLAIN THE EFFECTS OF C O N S U M P T I O N A N D PRODUCTION

PATTERNS O N CLIMATE CHANGE
A. LIST ACTIVITIES THAT EXEMPLIFY CARE FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT
2. D ISCUSS PERSONAL CONTRIBUTIONS THAT CAN ACTUALLY SOLVE
THE PR O B L E M OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND
3. M A K E A S TA N D O N H O W T H E C O N S E Q U E N C E S O F O N E ’ S A C T I O N
A FFE C T T H E L I V ES O F OTHERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
 L ess on U n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e C o n s e q u e n c e s of
Personal a n d Local Action to G lobal
1 a n d Planetary Climate C hange

H a v e y o u ever realized that an y o n e of us can contribute to climate

ch a n g e ? T h e food y o u eat, the soda y o u drink, the clothes y o u wear, an d even
the sheets of p a p e r y o u u s e in a n s w e r i n g this m o d u l e directly o r
indirectly affect o u r environment.
H u m a n activities are largely responsible for the increase in
global temperatures that causes the climate to change. Climate change is real, in
fact it is h a p p e n i n g n o w, all y o u h a v e to d o is to o p e n y o u r e y e s a n d b e a w a r e
o f it. T his learning module will help you b eco m e aware of this worldwide
concern o n climate c h a n g e a n d b e c o m e m o r e responsible individuals in the
u s e o f the earth’s resources.
 T h e c o n c e p t o f p l a n e t a r y n e t w o r k e m p h a s i z e s t h a t e v e r y t h i n g o n e a r t h is
in t er con nec t ed . W h a t e v e r h a p p e n s to o n e e l e m e n t o n earth h a s effect t o the oth er
c o m p o n e n t s.
P l a n e t a r y n e t w o r k s refer to the interconnections a n d interrelations a m o n g the
various e l e m e nts in the natural e n v i r o n m e n t e n v e l o p i n g a n d affecting Ear th as w e l l a s
b e y o n d E a r t h ’s s u r f a c e . I t i n c l u d e s t h e r a i n , t h e w i n d , t h e s u n ’s r a y s , gasses and other
climate-related elements.
Global w arm ing is a phenomenon which refers to the rising of global average
t e m p e r a t u r e o n E a r t h ’s s u r f a c e d u e t o t h e t h i n n i n g o f t h e o z o n e l a y e r i n E art h’s
a t m o s p h e r e . O z o n e s t a y s h i g h u p i n t h e a t m o s p h e r e w h e r e it is f o r m e d , a n d its h u g e
quantity is e n o u g h to f o r m shield for earth against the s u n ’s ultraviolet r ays . U lt ra v i ol e t
rays can cause cornea d a m a g e and skin cancer; stunt the growth and food
manufacturing process of green plants and destroy the floating
microorganisms at the base of the oce a n food chain. G loba l w a r m i n g causes
changes in the climate patterns a n d w eather cycles of the E arth.
C l i m a t e c h a n g e refers to the m a j o r c h a n g e s in the climate that last for long periods
of time. Climate refers to the prevailing set of atmospheric conditions such a s
t e mp e r a t u r e a n d h u m i d i t y of a place wi t h i n a s p a n of time. W e ather is the
a t mosp her i c co ndi t io n invo l v i ng h o t or cold, rainy or dry, c l o u d y o r clear s k y a n d stormy
or calm in a short period of time (Arzadon et.al 2015).
The Effects of Consumption and Production Patterns o n Climate Change
P ro d u c t i o n refers t o h o w p e o p l e g e n e r a t e a n d m a n u f a c t u r e t h e p r o d u c t s
they n e e d to use, sell, or c o n s u m e . A l m o s t everything c o m e s f r o m
natural resources which are depleted every time they are used.
If p r o d u c t i o n p a t t e r n is c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y h e a v y d e p e n d e n c e o n coal, t h e
problem of climate change will b e m o r e aggravated . C hina, for instance, has
large coal mines and relief o n them for its energy requirements. This makes
China one of the most polluted c ountries o n Earth. Dependence o n
petroleum in the man u f a ctu re a n d production o f g o o d s m a k e s U . S . p r o d u c e d
2 3 percent o f global c a r b o n e m i s s i o n , w h i l e it m a k e s easte rn E u r o p e a n
countr i es, i n c l u d i n g R u s s i a , produce 14 percent of carbon emission (Harper
2001).
T h e s e o n l y s h o w that t h e m o r e p r o g r e s s i v e t h e c o u n t r y is, th e m o r e t h e y
contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer and the worsening of global
warming and climate change.
 C o n s u m p t i o n refers to the u s e of e c o n o m i c or c o n s u m e r g o o d s a n d
resources. Consumption patterns can be categorized as individual, family, co mp an y
a n d g o v e r n m e n t c o n s u m p t i o n . It is th e m a i n r e a s o n w h y w e n e e d to u s e o u r
resources. E c o s y s t e m h a s the ability to regenera te, sustain a n d adjust w h a t is lost,
but with the excessive use of land resources, ecosystem will be destroyed.
In e c o n o m i c s , the m o r e con s u mp tion , t h e m o r e d e m a n d , the m ore d e m a n d
t h e m o r e p r o d u c t i o n , t h e m o r e p r o d u c t i o n t h e m o r e e x t ra c t i o n t o n a tu r a l
resources, th e m o r e extraction the faster for th e re so urc e s to destroy. T h e
re s ou rce s i n o u r e n v i r o n m e n t a re limited b u t the n e e d for p r o d u c t i o n a n d
consumption is unlimited.

S o m e initiatives b y the g o v e r n m e n t that he lp s protect the e n v ir o n m e n t a r e

the following:
1. T h e K y o t o p ro to co l , w h i c h w a s e n f o r c e d in 2 0 0 5 , specifies targets a n d
timeframes for reduction of Greenhouse gasses emission of the
industrialized countries. F or ex am p le , United States produce s 2 3 percent of
the global c a r b o n emission, f r o m 2 0 0 0 to 2 0 1 2 its target reduction is seven
percent.
2. The emission certificates guarantee a product’s resource efficiency
which can help in increasing sales, decreasing costs and boosting
brand loyalty. The certificate enables the manufacturer to gain
international recognition for the products.

3. Carbon offsetting is the reduction of carbon footprint by using

other options such as wind or solar energy.

Simple things you can do to help fight climate change:

1. Save energy
S a v i n g e n e rg y not on ly s av es y o u m o n e y but helps y o u cut
c a r b o n emissions too. For example, refrain from using your
cellphone while charging.
 2. Improve your diet
W h e n buying fruits and vegetables, try to b u y organic. Organic foods are
healthier b e c a u s e t h e y contai n f e w e r h a r m f u l substances, b u t growing
them also protects the environment and the climate.
3. Saving water at ho m e
C l e a n w a t e r that is p u m p e d t o m o s t h o m e s h a s b e e n treated w h i c h
uses lots of energy.
4. Recycling
It c a n really help stop climate c h a n g e because re-using materials
usually uses less energy.

5. Compost food scraps

If leftovers, peels, cores and cuttings were composted, they would
reduce emissions and help protect healthy soil.
6. Plant trees
Trees help suck carbon out of the air and stabilize the climate.
7. Avoid plastic wherever you can
Almost every plastic is produced from fossil fuels and in every single
phase of its life cycle, plastic emits greenhouse gases.

8. Get on your bike

Bicycle is still the number one form of sustainable transportation.

9. B e informed and support

S u p p o r t o rg a n i z a t i o n s that h o l d c o m p a n i e s t o a c c o u n t f o r the
environmental practices.
9. Sharing is caring!
If w e o w n less a n d use m o r e things collectively, w e need to produce
fewer things an d that saves o n resources. Sharing cars, exchanging
clothes, lending and borrowing tools are multiple different possibilities for
collective consumption.