CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS GLOBAL IMPACT

A SYNTHESIS PAPER
PRESENTED TO THE FACULTY OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT,
SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING & MATHEMATICS
AURORA PIONEERS MEMORIAL COLLEGE
AURORA, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Subject
EARTH SCIENCE II

Ceniza, Charicel
Danao, Angel Raiza
Lambayan, Rea Jean
Lapinoza, Princess Zian
Pacencia, Jazz
Pintor, Hardy
Toling, Shairrah Rose
Tual, Charich
Turnos, Iceendie
 I. INTRODUCTION

Our planet is burning. In 2023, the average concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our
atmosphere was 419.3 ppm (parts per million), the highest in human history and more than
50% higher than pre-industrial levels of CO2. Changes to Earth’s climate driven by increased
human emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases are already having widespread effects on
the environment: glaciers and ice sheets are shrinking, river and lake ice is breaking up
earlier, plant and animal geographic ranges are shifting, and plants and trees are blooming
sooner. (Dana Bolles, 2024)
Climate change refers to significant and lasting changes in the Earth's climate patterns,
particularly those related to global warming and alterations in weather patterns. It occurs due
to both natural processes and, more significantly, human activities that influence the
composition of the Earth's atmosphere. This could be a change in how much rain a place gets
over a year or it could be a change in some place normal temperature for a month or season
or change in the usual earth temperature (Fahad 2020).
Ecosystems and people around the globe are affected by the ongoing process of climate
change. Climate Change affects the environment in many different ways, including drought,
floods, rising sea levels, rising temperature, loss of glacial ice and more. These events can
affect the things we value and depend on, like water, wildlife, agriculture, energy, and human
health. However, impacts are uneven across the country and around the world. Even within
one community, climate change can affect one neighborhood or person more than another.
Communities that have less access to resources to protect themselves or cope with impacts
are often the same communities that are also more exposed to hazards. (NOOA, 2024)
Climate change is considered as one of the greatest crises the mankind is facing putting
the well-being of people in every country at risk.

II. Review of Related Literature

Climate change stands as one of the crucial challenges of our era. Multiple sources of
evidence now make it more certain than ever that humans are altering Earth’s climate. The
atmosphere and oceans have experienced warming, leading to rising sea levels, a significant
decrease in Arctic Sea levels, and various other climate-related shifts. This literature review
will examine recent studies on climate change and how it impacts our planet.
Climate is often defined loosely as the average weather at a particular place, incorporating
such features as temperature, precipitation, humidity, and windiness. A more specific
definition would state that climate is the mean state and variability of these features over
some extended time period. Both definitions acknowledge that the weather is always
changing, owing to instabilities in the atmosphere. And as weather varies from day to day, so
too does climate vary, from daily day-and-night cycles up to periods or geologic time
hundreds of millions of years long. In a very real sense, climate variation is a redundant
expression-climate is always varying (Stephen Jackson, 2018).
Climate change is further amplified by feedback mechanisms. For example, as global
temperatures rise, polar ice caps and glaciers melt, reducing the Earth's albedo (reflectivity).
This leads to more solar radiation being absorbed by the Earth’s surface, which accelerates
warming (Vaughan & Arndt, 2018). The primary driver of contemporary climate change is
the increase in greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and
nitrous oxide (N₂O), in the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the sun, creating a
"greenhouse effect" that warms the Earth's surface.

During COP27, efforts have been made to define which countries are most vulnerable to
climate change. Chad, Somalia and Syria are the most potentially at risk from the
consequences of this environmental problem.
Chad is considered the most vulnerable country to climate change due to a combination of
factors. High poverty levels, with over 38% of the population living below the international
poverty line, exacerbate the impacts of climate change. The country relies heavily on rain-fed
agriculture, making it particularly susceptible to weather patterns and extreme events.
Since the mid-20th century, temperatures in Chad have been increasing while rainfall is
decreasing. Ninety percent of the country’s largest lake, Lake Chad, has disappeared over the
past 50 years due to a combination of droughts and increasing withdrawals for irrigation.
Climate studies project things will get increasingly hot throughout the 21st century, which
means lower crop yields, worse pasture, and a harder life for anyone dependent on Lake
Chad.
In summary, the country’s status as the most vulnerable country to climate change is a
result of its unique combination of socio-economic challenges and environmental realities.
The interplay of high poverty rates, reliance on rain-fed agriculture, and the alarming
depletion of vital water resources, such as Lake Chad, underscores the urgent need for
comprehensive climate adaptation strategies. As temperatures continue to rise and
precipitation patterns become more erratic, the impacts on agriculture, food security, and
livelihoods will intensify, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable populations.
Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts from the government, international
organizations, and local communities to implement sustainable practices, enhance resilience,
and secure the future of those who depend on the fragile ecosystems of Chad. Without
immediate action, the consequences of climate change may lead to further degradation of the
environment and exacerbate existing socio-economic inequalities, threatening the well-being
of millions.
The climate change greatly affects the agricultural production due to the presence of
extreme weather, temperature changes, rainfall fluctuation and seasonal patterns of the year.
The Angat Dam which is the main source of water in National Capital Region and of course
in the Bulacan which also serves as the source of water which irrigates the large numbers of
plantation in Bulacan. The water level in Angat Dam is definitely out of level which is the
concrete problem to the agricultural aspects in Bulacan particularly in Bustos Bulacan. In
Poblacion Bustos, is the most populous barangay and is located in the North-West of the
municipality closest to the larger municipality of Baliuag Though situated above the flood
plain for the most part, Bustos still experiences two annual flood events derived from the
water releases of the Angat Regulator (Bustos) Dam to the north –east, which are smaller in
scale than in the highly vulnerable southern municipalities (Romar Ignacio, 2024).
According to Romar Ignacio, 2024, The problem in climate change has a clearly solution
and minimize its effects, this can be done through a proper preparation in those area which
was affected by the climate change in Bustos Bulacan and nearby Municipality. The trainings
which were conducted by the municipalities accordingly which can help each and every of
the farmers to make more a productive harvest of rice and arrowroot despite of the increasing
problem in climate change. The type of soil which can also be a hindrance to make a good
quality rice and arrowroot production in Bustos Bulacan. The adjustment of each farmer to
the increasing condition of climate change that affects more of us and the agricultural sector
in Bulacan, this is done with the water mitigation process, training for the agricultural
productivity and even the alternate agricultural crops you have been use and raise in the
regular season of your farming. This maybe the probable answer to the problem of the
climate change which can we experience through out every year as our earth and environment
would be deteriorated in the human violation and abuse for personal and technological
change.
The Philippines is an archipelagic country where agriculture plays a vital role in
providing around 30 percent of employment and 10 percent of the country’s total gross
domestic product in 2013. Recent natural disasters significantly affected crops and livestock
resulted to severe loss in agricultural production including human lives. Climate change
worsens the economic situation and food security among others of the Philippine people
(Romar Ignacio, 2024). As climate change evidenced by global warming progresses, farm
productivity has been going down in the past five years. Crop selection was found to be
significant and it was the only factor that has a direct proportional relationship with the level
of preparation. Information or awareness has an inverse relationship with productivity
through time indicating the irrelevance of climate change information given to farmers.
According to Philippine Statistics Authority (2014), Climate change threatens household
food security in the Philippines by disrupting agriculture through extreme weather,
unpredictable rainfall, and rising temperatures. These conditions reduce crop yields, impact
incomes, and lead to higher food prices, making it harder for families to access adequate and
nutritious food. As a climate-vulnerable nation, the Philippines faces an urgent need for
strategies to protect food security amidst these growing challenges. One of the emerging
development concerns in recent years is that of the adverse implications of climate change. In
the Philippines, where extreme weather conditions during El Nino and La Nina is already
common, what makes climate change a threat in the country’s agriculture sector.

Data source in 2014, studies from the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed that
climate change significantly impacted food security, particularly in rural areas where
agriculture is a primary livelihood. Extreme weather events like typhoons and droughts
reduced crop yields, especially rice and corn, leading to food shortages and higher prices,
which worsened household food insecurity. Forecasts in 2014 suggested that if climate
change continued unchecked, food security in the Philippines would deteriorate, especially
for vulnerable communities. For example, regions like Mindanao, often affected by droughts,
could see decreased agricultural productivity, increasing reliance on imports and driving up
food costs, further exacerbating poverty. These projections emphasized the need for climate-
resilient farming practices to ensure food stability.

Climate change is a major threat to food security in the Philippines, disrupting agriculture
with extreme weather, changing rainfall, and rising temperatures. Studies from the
Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) in 2014 show that typhoons and droughts reduce crop
yields, particularly rice and corn, leading to food shortages and higher prices. Vulnerable
regions, like Mindanao, face even greater risks, which could worsen poverty and reliance on
food imports. This emphasizes the urgent need for climate-resilient farming practices to
safeguard food security.

III. Body
Climate change represents one of the most pressing challenges of our time, fundamentally
altering the natural world and human societies alike. The phenomenon is driven by a
combination of natural processes and, more critically, anthropogenic activities that have
significantly increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. This section will
further discuss different causes of climate change, its impact globally and potential solutions
for this crisis.

Drought
 Drought is generally defined as “a deficiency of precipitation over an extended period
of time (usually a season or more), resulting in a water shortage.” Warmer temperatures
enhance evaporation, which reduces surface water and dries out soils and vegetation. This
makes periods with low precipitation drier than they would be in cooler conditions.
Droughts are defined by their lack of available water. During droughts, communities
may have limited access to water for household use, including drinking, cooking, cleaning,
and watering plants, as well as for agriculture, transportation, and power generation.
Droughts may lead to higher water costs, rationing, or even the decimation of important water
sources like wells, as a drought did in a rural California community in 2021. California
experienced a particularly drawn-out drought from December 2011 to March 2019, broken in
part by the wettest winter in the United States. 2020 saw widespread, prolonged drought that
was exacerbated by heat waves in more than a dozen Western and Central states. The intense
drought and heat combined to wither vegetation, intensifying Western wildfires that burned
record acreage. Nationwide, conditions reached their peak in December 2020, when the
greatest extent of land since 2012 was under extreme drought conditions. In the West,
drought has continued and intensified in 2021, and has been exacerbated in the Pacific
Northwest by record heat.
Governments and businesses must identify their vulnerability to drought and improve
resilience. They can help prepare for both future droughts and climate change by practicing
and promoting water conservation and enhancing water efficiency throughout landscapes,
city plans, and water infrastructure. They can also identify alternative water supplies, create
drought emergency plans, and encourage farmers to plant drought-resistant crops. The
Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation portal helps communities understand and
plan for their climate risks today and in the future, including a real-time map of wildfire,
drought, flooding, and extreme heat across the United States. Other actions that improve
resilience to other stressors, like deploying green infrastructure for stormwater management
increasing energy efficiency in buildings (thereby using less power from plants that rely on
water to function), and using renewable energy like solar (that isn’t reliant on water) can
improve resilience to drought as a co-benefit.

Rising sea levels

The rising water level is mostly due to a combination of melt water from glaciers and
ice sheets and thermal expansion of seawater as it warms. In 2023, global mean sea level was
101.4 millimeters (3.99 inches) above 1993 levels, making it the highest annual average in
the satellite record (1993-present). The major physical impacts of a rise in sea level include
erosion of beaches, as well as flooding and loss of many marshes and wetlands. Rising sea
levels, driven primarily by climate change, pose a significant threat to coastal communities
and ecosystems globally. Mitigation strategies should focus on reducing greenhouse gas
emissions to slow the rate of sea-level rise, alongside adaptation measures like building
seawalls and relocating vulnerable populations. International cooperation and technological
innovation are crucial for effective and sustainable solutions. Natural structures such as
barrier islands, oyster and coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass, and salt marshes can work in
unison with built infrastructure, such as seawalls, to absorb storm surges. These projects are
often cost-effective and can improve the natural environment for the community.

Loss of glacial ice

A solid, crystalline type of ice known as glacial ice is created as snow over many years.
Glacial ice is made of layers of snow that are compacted by the weight as by their own
weight, in contrast to the comparatively tiny and loosely packed crystal that make up freezer
ice. The snow crystals recrystallize into bigger, interconnecting crystals as a result of this
compression. Which pushes out air spaces.
 Earth’s temperature is greatly influenced by the melting of glacial ice, which increases
warming through a feedback loop brought on the climate change. By reflecting a large
amount of the sun’s energy back into space, glacier serve as enormous reflectors that keep the
globe cold. However, glaciers melt more quickly as temperatures rise, revealing darker
surfaces like rock and soil that are more absorbing. More melting and cycle of faster warming
result from this enhanced absorption, which further warms the surrounding environment. In
addition to raising sea levels, the melting of glacial ice also changes regional climatic patterns
and freshwater resources for ecosystems and communities. With far-reaching effects, the
relationship between glacier ice and climate change is intricate and intertwined. The impact
reflectivity of its high albedo, which increases heat absorption and speeds up warming
(positive feedback loop). Additionally, melting has a major role in sea level rise, endangering
coastal regions. Moreover, ocean currents are disturbed by the freshwater inflow from
melting glaciers, which modifies the distribution of heat and may result in more intense
weather. Water resources are impacted when water cycles are disrupted by changes in river
flow patterns brought on by changed glacier melt. Lastly, the greenhouse effect is exacerbated
by the methane released by thawing permafrost. These interrelated processes demonstrate
how important glacial ice is to a dynamically shifting climatic system.
Global warming, which is fueled by greenhouse gas emissions from human activities
including burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, is the main factor
behind glacial ice loss. The air and ocean temperatures rise as a result of this warming,
hastening the melting of glaciers.

Loss of species
Human impact on Earth’s ecosystems is driving an unprecedented decline in
biodiversity, leading scientists to warn of a sixth mass extinction. Biological Annihilation
underscores that human activity, especially since the Industrial Revolution, has profoundly
altered natural habitats and ecosystems. To habitat destruction, pollution and climate change
amplify the risks to biodiversity, creating conditions where species struggle to adapt or
survive. The loss of species has cascading effects on ecosystems. Biodiversity decline
weakens ecosystem resilience, making ecosystems more vulnerable to disruptions like
disease, climate change, and natural disasters. Ecosystems lose essential functions, such as
pollination, seed dispersal, and water purification, which directly impacts human welfare. As
species disappear, ecosystems become less capable of storing carbon, exacerbating climate
change. The extinction crisis threatens not only ecological balance but also the cultural and
economic fabric of. Policy reforms, particularly those addressing sustainable consumption
and development, are essential. Governments and organizations can implement stricter
regulations on pollution, deforestation, and hunting to limit anthropogenic impacts.
Additionally, fostering public awareness can encourage behavioral changes that reduce
consumption and support conservation. (Ehrlich, 2017)

Poverty
Climate change is believed to represent a serious challenge to poverty reduction
efforts around the globe. Poverty is widely understood to be a key factor that increases the
propensity for individuals and households to be harmed by climatic shocks and stresses.
Poverty is increasingly recognized as a dynamic and multidimensional condition that is
shaped by the interplay of social, economic, political, and environmental processes,
individual and community characteristics, and historical circumstances. While climate change
is never seen as a sole cause of poverty, research has identified numerous direct and indirect
channels through which climatic variability and change may worsen poverty, particularly in
less developed countries and regions. Recent studies have also investigated the effects of
climate change on economic growth and poverty levels, formation of poverty traps, and
poverty alleviation efforts. These studies demonstrate that climate change‐poverty linkages
are complex, multifaceted, and context‐specific. Priority issues for future work include
greater attention to factors that promote resilience of poor populations, a stronger focus on
nonmonetary dimensions of poverty, investigation of the impacts of climate change on
relative poverty and inequality, and exploration of the poverty impacts of extreme climate
change. (Robin Leichenkom, et. al, 2014)

Human health risk

Climate change poses a significant threat to human health, affecting many aspects of
health, including: Physical health, Climate change can increase the risk of water-related
illnesses, malnutrition, and the spread of infectious diseases. It can also aggravate circulatory,
cardiovascular, respiratory, and kidney diseases. Extreme weather, Climate change can lead to
more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting extreme heat events, which can increase the risk of
heat-related sickness and death. Climate change can also lead to more frequent extreme
precipitation, intense storms, and flooding, which can also have negative health impacts. Air
pollution, Climate change can increase the risk of respiratory stress from poor air
quality. Food systems, Climate change can disrupt food systems, leading to increased hunger
and poor nutrition. Health workforce and infrastructure, Climate change can impact health
workforce and infrastructure, reducing the capacity to provide universal health coverage.
Ways to prevent this health risks: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by phasing out
fossil fuels and investing in sustainable transport, food and energy solutions will result
in improved health. particularly through reduced air pollution, healthier diets and more
physical activity. Save energy at home. Much of our electricity and heat are powered by coal,
oil and gas. Use less energy by reducing your heating and cooling use, switching to LED light
bulbs and energy-efficient electric appliances, washing your laundry with cold water, or
hanging things to dry instead of using a dryer.
. Walk, bike or take public transport The world’s roadways are clogged with vehicles,
most of them burning diesel or gasoline. Walking or riding a bike instead of driving will
reduce greenhouse gas emissions -- and help your health and fitness. Reduce, reuse, repair
and recycle Electronics, clothes, plastics and other items we buy cause carbon emissions at
each point in production, from the extraction of raw materials to manufacturing and
transporting goods to market. To protect the climate, buy fewer things, shop second-hand, and
repair what you can. Plant native species If you have a garden or even just a plant or two
outside your home, check for native species. Clean up your environment. Humans, animals
and plants all suffer from land and water contaminated by improperly discarded garbage. Use
what you need, and when you have to throw something out, dispose of it properly. Educate
others to do the same, and participate in local clean-ups of parks, rivers, beaches and beyond.

IV. CONCLUSION
In final analysis, the evidence presented underscores the urgent and multifaceted nature of
climate change, which poses a significant threat to the planet's ecosystems, human health, and
economic stability. The alarming rise in greenhouse gas concentrations, exemplified by the
record levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, has catalyzed a cascade of environmental
changes, including extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and biodiversity loss. These
changes disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, where socio-economic challenges
exacerbate the impacts of climate change on food security and livelihoods.
Addressing climate change is not merely an environmental issue; it is a humanitarian and
economic imperative. Effective solutions require a comprehensive approach that includes
reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, enhancing
community resilience, and fostering international cooperation. It is essential to prioritize the
needs of the most affected populations, ensuring that adaptation strategies are inclusive and
equitable.
As we confront the realities of a warming planet, the collective responsibility of
individuals, governments, and organizations becomes paramount. By embracing sustainable
practices, investing in renewable energy, and advocating for policy reforms, we can mitigate
the effects of climate change and work towards a more resilient future. The time for action is
now; the health of our planet and the well-being of future generations depend on the
decisions we make today.