PLANETARY NETWORKS: CLIMATE
CHANGE
Prepared by: CHERRYLYN T. MAGANO LPT

Change is inevitable. The era of globalization certainly contributed
in changing the landscape of the world and its inhabitants. Amid this
growth and advancement in technology, the environment seems to bear
and suffer the consequences. Every day, we are confronted with issues
and problems related to the environment. The issue on climate change is
one concrete manifestation and realization that the age of globalization
and the rapid industrial and technological advancement has taken its toll
on the natural environment.

Climate Change
- Also called global warming, refers to the rise in average surface
temperatures on Earth. An overwhelming scientific consensus
maintains that climate change is due primarily to the human use of
fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse
gases into the air.
- Is “a change of which is attributed directly or indirectly to human
activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere” (United
Nations Forum Convention on Climate Change)

Greenhouse Effect – the trapping of the sun’s
warmth in a planet’s lower atmosphere due to
the greater transparency of the atmosphere to
visible radiation from the sun than to infrared
radiation emitted from the planet’s surface.

7 EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE YOU’RE ALREADY SEEING
Climate change isn’t something that’s happening in 10
or 20 years. It’s happening now. Here are seven effects
of climate change you’ve already seen.

1. LONGER, MORE INTENSE ALLERGY SEASONS.
Warming temperatures in some areas, like the northern United
States, are extending the periods when plants release pollen. This affects
not only people who already have allergies, but those who didn’t. This
means that people who have pollen allergies might experience ,ore
intense symptoms, and people who don’t normally have allergies might
begin to experience them. This pollen can induce allergic asthma.

2. FOODS YOU LOVE ARE BECOMING LESS NUTRITIOUS AND
CAUSE MORE AT THE GROCERY STORE
The same CO2 accumulating in our atmosphere thanks to fossil
fuels is actually changing the composition of fruits and vegetables that
we eat, making them less nutritious. The extra CO2 is speeding up
photosynthesis and causing plants to grow with more sugar and less
calcium, protein, zinc, and important vitamins.

Not only food is becoming less nutritious, but it could
soon cost more too. Beginning in 2006, drought in major
wheat-producing countries was a key factor in a dramatic
spike in food prices around the globe. And as the world
keeps getting hotter, we can expect to see this kind of
drought more and more often.

3. MORE COMMON, MORE SEVERE, AND MORE LONG-LASTING
HEAT WAVES.
Extreme heat and heat waves have happened since the beginning
of time. But across the board, climate change is making heat waves
more common, severe, and long-lasting. Heat waves can become so
intense that our roads actually melt.

4. WILDFIRE CAUSING DAMAGE TO OUR LANDSCAPES AND OUR
COMMUNITIES – AS WELL AS OUR HEALTH.
Wildfire are devastating communities around the world. From the
billion-dollar destruction they cause to the costs of lost plant, animal, and
even human life, these devastating natural disasters are scarring our
landscapes.

5. HURRICANES ARE BECOMING MORE LIKELY AND MORE
DANGEROUS.
Around the world, average sea surface temperatures are rising. As
seas get warmer, they add more water vapor and heat energy into the
atmosphere. This extra heat and water, just happens to be the perfect fuel
for hurricanes and in the right conditions, can make dangerous storms
even more powerful.

6. MORE CLIMATE-RELATED MASS MIGRATION.
Climate change is already prompting an increase in migration, with people
being forced to leave their homes because of drought, flooding, and other
climate-related disasters.

7. DISEASES ARE SPREADING MORE EASILY.
Disease-carrying insects thrive with warmer-than-average temperatures,
extreme heat waves, and heavy rains. These vectors live longer lives in
extended periods of warm weather. Fly into new areas that were
previously too cold. And reproduce in water deposits left by the rain.
Climate change is also creating ideal conditions for waterborne
pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, which flourish in warmer
waters.

Solutions:
 What to do:
 Reduce energy consumption
 Travel Green
 Watch your Water Use
 Reduce Waste
 Plant a Tree

Climate Change Solutions
In order to avoid the most serious impacts of climate change, humans
will have to significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gas
emissions being put into the atmosphere. There are different approaches
to make these decreases, including optimizing vehicles proficiency,
expanding access to and utilization of open travel, overhauling building
protection, supplanting fossils with renewable energy, and diminishing
deforestation.

Numerous legislatures, organizations, and
people are starting to execute some of these
techniques and hence gradually decreasing
emissions. The use of cleaner production
technologies and change of lifestyle are desired to
impact a change in climate.