Environmental Problems

Group 5
Miguel Zamora
Olivia Organo
Jolea Gregorio
Rock Lee

CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate

change is the long-term

shift in overall weather patterns
(including precipitation,
temperatures, cloud cover) in a
specific region or globally
especially due to an increase in
the average atmospheric
temperature. It usually occurs
when something changes the
total amount of the suns energy
absorbed by the Earths

CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Greenhouse Gases
The Earth has a natural greenhouse
effect where certain gases in the
atmosphere allow the sunlight to enter
but absorb the heat radiation. Because
these gases absorb the heat, they
keep the average surface temperature
on Earth around 14C. Without the
natural greenhouse effect, the Earths
average surface temperature would be
around -19C.

CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Atmospheric Aerosols
Atmospheric Aerosols may change the
micro physical and chemical properties
of clouds and possibly their lifetime and
extent by scattering and absorbing solar
and infrared radiation.
The scattering of solar radiation acts to
cool the planet, while absorption of solar
radiation by aerosols warms the air
directly instead of allowing sunlight to
be absorbed by the surface of the Earth.

CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Land-use change and
Deforestation
Deforestation and land-use
changes contribute
approximately 20 to 25 percent
of the carbon emissions because
lesser amount of sunlight is
reflected from the ground back
into space.

CARBON POLLUTION
Carbon

dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is the main

pollutant that is warming Earth. Though living
things emit carbon dioxide when they breathe,
carbon dioxide is widely considered to be a
pollutant when associated with cars, planes,
power plants, and other human activities that
involve the burning of fossil fuels such
asgasoline and natural gas.
In the past 150 years, such activities have
pumped enough carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere to raise its levels higher than they
have been for hundreds of thousands of years.

CAUSES OF CARBON POLLUTION

Human Sources
Fossil fuel combustion - releases energy
which is most commonly turned into heat,
electricity or power for transportation.
Electricity and Heat Generation - relies
heavily on coal, the most carbon-intensive
of fossil fuels, explaining this sector giant
carbon footprint.
Transportation sector - very energy
intensive and it uses petroleum based fuels
(gasoline, diesel, kerosene, etc.) almost
exclusively to meet those needs.

CAUSES OF CARBON POLLUTION

Human Sources
Transportation sector - very energy
intensive and it uses petroleum
based fuels (gasoline, diesel,
kerosene, etc.)
The Industrial Sector - consists of
manufacturing, construction,
mining, and agriculture which
account for the vast majority of the
fossil fuel use and CO2 emissions

CAUSES OF CARBON POLLUTION

Human Sources
Industrial processes - produces
significant amounts of carbon
dioxide emissions as a by-product
of chemical reactions needed in
their production process

CAUSES OF CARBON POLLUTION

Natural Sources
Ocean-atmosphere exchange Oceans contain dissolved carbon
dioxide, which is released into the
air at the sea surface.
Plant and animal respiration Carbon dioxide is a byproduct of the
chemical reaction that plants and
animals use to produce the energy
they need.

CAUSES OF CARBON POLLUTION

Natural Sources
Ocean-atmosphere exchange Oceans contain dissolved carbon
dioxide, which is released into the
air at the sea surface.
Plant and animal respiration Carbon dioxide is a byproduct of the
chemical reaction that plants and
animals use to produce the energy
they need.

CAUSES OF CARBON POLLUTION

Natural Sources
Soil respiration and decomposition - Many
organisms that live in the Earth's soil use
respiration to produce energy. Amongst
them are decomposers who break down
dead organic material. Both of these
processes releases carbon dioxide as a
byproduct
Volcanic eruptions - release magma, ash,
dust and gases from deep below the
Earth's surface. One of the gases released
is carbon dioxide.

SUSTAINABILITY
Education
Climate science must be
integrated as practical knowledge
into society so that
understanding the complex
physical and biological
interconnections are relevant to
decision-making in social,
economic, political, cultural, and
educational systems.

SUSTAINABILITY
Mitigation
Mitigation to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions entails the reduction and
conservation of oil, gas, and coal, the fossil
fuels that are used in transportation, heating
and cooling, agriculture, and electricity
generation. Replacing carbon-intensive fuels
with renewable and alternative energy sources
is key to decarbonizing the current energy
infrastructure, which will require transforming
the global economy that is currently fueled
primarily by carbon-based energy sources.

SUSTAINABILITY
Mitigation
Alternative energy source
Drive less by biking to reduce
carbon emission
Carpooling
Riding public transit
Reduce, reuse, recycle

SUSTAINABILITY
Adaptation
Adapting to climate change is
also crucial since, no matter how
successful mitigation efforts are,
the changes already occurring
are predicted to increase in the
years and decades to come,
requiring serious planning to
minimize risks, vulnerabilities,
and impacts.

SUSTAINABILITY
Building

sea walls and moving away from vulnerable

coasts in order to avoid sea level rise and storm surges
Diversifying crops and using drip irrigation for
agriculture
Building new public works such as sewers, bridges
and aqueducts to handle changes in rainfall and flooding
Training public health professionals for increased
health impacts and emerging diseases
Developing wildlife conservation plans and new
migration corridors to protect endangered species
Designing buildings to conserve and even generate
energy, and
Demonstrating strategies and lifestyles for increased
sustainability and resilience

CARBON FOOTPRINT
A

carbon footprint is historically

defined as "the total sets of
greenhouse gas emissions
caused by an organization, event,
product or person."

THE END