LESSON 13: ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

COURSE MATERIALS

Maybe some of you have seen posters, ads, and the like carrying the message ''Go
Green!'' But, what does it mean to ''go green''? It takes a variety of forms, but essentially, going
green means being mindful of the natural environment and making economic choices that aren't
harmful to the earth. When people ''go green,'' they are practicing environmental awareness.
The term means exactly what you expect it to: being aware of the natural environment and making
choices that benefit--rather than hurt--the earth. In recent years, environmental awareness has
gained increased attention for opening the minds of the many about the possible environmental
consequences of different human made activities.

20 Major Current Environmental Problems

1. Pollution
There are 7 key types of pollution – air, water, soil, noise, radioactive, light and thermal.
All these types of pollution are interlinked and influence each other. Therefore we need to tackle
all of them together. Pollution of air, water and soil requires millions of years to recover. While
water pollution is caused by oil spill, acid rain, urban runoff, air pollution is caused by various
gases and toxins released by industries and factories and combustion of fossil fuels; soil pollution
is majorly caused by industrial waste that deprives soil from essential nutrients.

2. Soil Degradation
Globally, food security depends on the factor whether or not soils are in good condition to
produce crops. According to UN estimates, about 12 million hectares of farmland a year get
seriously degraded.Soils get damaged due to many reasons. Such reasons include
erosion, overgrazing, overexposure to pollutants, monoculture planting, soil compaction, land-use
conversion and many more.

3. Global Warming
Climate changes like global warming are the result of human practices like the emission
of greenhouse gases. Global warming leads to rising temperatures of the oceans and the earth’
surface causing more violent and destructive natural disasters that include flooding, melting of
polar ice caps, rise in sea levels and also unnatural patterns of precipitation that may result to
flash floods, hurricanes, wildfires, drought, excessive snow or desertification.

4. Overpopulation
The population of the planet is reaching unsustainable levels as it faces a shortage of
resources like water, fuel and food. Population explosion in less developed and developing
countries is straining the already scarce resources. Intensive agriculture practiced to produce food
damages the environment through the use of chemical fertilizer, pesticides and
insecticides. Overpopulation is also one of the crucial current environmental problems.

5. Natural Resource Depletion

Another crucial current environmental problem is the depletion of Natural resources. We, humans,
use so many natural resources that it would need almost 1.5 Earths to cover all our needs. This
will further increase in the future due to massive industrialization in Asian countries like India and

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China. Increased use of natural resources leads to a number of other environmental issues, such
as industrialization, population growth and air pollution.
Over time, natural resource depletion will lead to an energy crisis. The chemicals emitted from
many natural resources contribute to climate change. Fossil fuel consumption results in the
emission of greenhouse gases, which is primarily responsible for global warming and climate
change.

6. Generating Unsustainable Waste

The huge production of waste due to our hyperconsumption is a major threat to the
environment. As per the study, the average person produces 4.3 pounds of waste per day. This
hyperconsumption results in non-biodegradable trash in the form of plastic packaging, toxic e-
waste, and harmful chemicals that leach into our waterways. When this waste ends up in landfills,
it generates enormous amounts of methane, which ranks as one of the worst greenhouse gases
because of its high potential for global warming. It creates severe explosion hazards.

7. Waste Disposal
The overconsumption of resources and the creation of plastics are creating a global crisis
of waste disposal. Developed countries are notorious for producing an excessive amount of waste
or garbage and then sadly, dumping these waste in the oceans or less developed countries.
Plastic, fast food, packaging and cheap electronic wastes also threaten the health being of
humans. Waste disposal is, therefore, one of the urgent current environmental problems.

8. Deforestation
Our forests are natural sinks of carbon dioxide and produce fresh oxygen, as well as helps
in regulating temperature and rainfall. At present, forests cover 30% of the land, but every year
tree cover lessens, due to the growing population demand for more food, shelter and
cloth. Deforestation simply means clearing of green cover and make that land available for
residential, industrial or commercial purposes.

9. Polar Ice Caps

The issue of the melting of polar ice caps is a contentious one. Although NASA studies
have shown that the amount of ice in Antarctica is increasing, however, this increase is only one-
third of what is being lost in the Arctic. There is enough evidence that shows sea levels are rising,
and the melting of Arctic ice caps is a major contributor. Over time, the melting of polar ice caps
could lead to extensive flooding, contamination of drinking water and major changes in
ecosystems.

10. Loss of Biodiversity

Human activity is leading to the extinction of species and habitats and loss of biodiversity.
Ecosystems, which took millions of years to perfect, are in danger when any species population
begin to vanish. Another example is the destruction of coral reefs in the various oceans, which
support the rich marine life. Balance of natural processes and resources should be balanced since
they are crucial to the survival of the ecosystem.

11. Climate Change

Climate change is yet another environmental problem that has surfaced in the last couple
of decades. It occurs due to global warming, which happens due to the increase in temperature
of the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels and the release of harmful gases by industries. Climate

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change has various harmful effects but not limited to the melting of polar ice, change in seasons,
occurrence of new diseases, frequent occurrence of floods and change in overall weather
scenario.

12. Ocean Acidification

It is a direct impact of excessive production of CO2. 25% of total atmospheric CO2 is
produced by humans. The ocean acidity has increased by the last 250 years, but by 2100, it may
shoot up by 150%. The main impact is on marine life like shellfish and plankton and in return the
entire ecosystem.

13. The Nitrogen Cycle

We often ignore the effects of the use of nitrogen by humans. Nitrogen is a crucial
component of all life. A process through which it is converted or ‘fixed’ to a more usable form is
called fixation. The fixation happens biologically or through lightning, or it can be done industrially.
People have learned to convert nitrogen gas to ammonia (NH3-) and fertilizers that are nitrogen-
rich to supplement the amount of nitrogen fixed naturally. Problems may occur when humans
intervene in its natural nitrogen cycle.
It is estimated that agriculture may be responsible for about 50% of the nitrogen fixation on earth
through the cultivation of nitrogen-fixing crops and the production of human-made fertilizers.
When nitrogen is used more than plant demand, it can leach from soils into waterways and
contributes again to another consequence called eutrophication. Excess levels of nitrogen in
water can hamper marine ecosystems, through overstimulation of plant and algae growth. This
blocks the light from getting into deeper waters, thus damaging the rest of the marine population.
The problem can also occur during nitrification and denitrification. Nitrous oxide (N2O) can be
formed when the chemical process is not completed. N2O is a potent greenhouse gas contributing
to global warming.

14. Ozone Layer Depletion

The ozone layer is an invisible layer of protection around the planet that protects us from
the sun’s harmful rays. The depletion of the crucial Ozone layer of the atmosphere is attributed to
pollution caused by Chlorine and Bromide found in Chloro-fluoro carbons (CFCs). Once these
toxic gases reach the upper atmosphere, they create a hole in the ozone layer, the biggest of
which is above the Antarctic by disassembling it since they attract an oxygen atom from Ozone
(O3), leaving O2 only as a free gas.
CFCs are banned in many industries and consumer products. The ozone layer is valuable
because it prevents harmful UV radiation from reaching the earth. This is one of the most
important current environmental problems.

15. Acid Rain

Acid rain occurs due to the presence of certain pollutants in the atmosphere. Acid rain can
be caused due to combustion of fossil fuels or erupting volcanoes or rotting vegetation which
releases sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere. Acid rain is a known
environmental problem that can have a serious effect on human health, wildlife and aquatic
species.

16. Water Pollution

Clean drinking water is becoming a rare commodity. Water is becoming an economic and
political issue as the human population fights for this resource. One of the options suggested is
using the process of desalinization. Industrial development is filling our rivers, seas and oceans

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with toxic pollutants, which are a major threat to human health as they continue to pollute those
bodies of water.

17. Overfishing
Overfishing affects natural ecosystems severely and leads to an imbalance of ocean life.
Around 63% of global fish stocks are estimated to be overfished. Overfishing caused fishing fleets
to migrate to new waters that would further deplete the fish stocks. Moreover, it has negative
effects on coastal communities that rely on fishing to support their living.

18. Urban Sprawl

Urban sprawl refers to the migration of population from high-density urban areas to low-
density rural areas, which results in the spreading of the city over more and more rural land.
Sprawl results in land degradation, increased traffic, environmental issues and health issues. The
ever-growing demand for land displaces the natural environment consisting of flora and fauna,
instead of being replaced.

19. Public Health Issues

The current environmental problems pose a lot of risk to the health of humans and
animals. Dirty water is the biggest health risk in the world and poses a threat to the quality of life
and public health. Runoff to rivers carries with it toxins, chemicals and disease-carrying
organisms. Pollutants cause respiratory diseases like Asthma and cardiac-vascular problems.
High temperatures encourage the spread of infectious diseases like Dengue. Polluted
environment and medicine abuse may also lead to stronger variants of bacteria and viruses that
may bring about deadly diseases like COVID 19.

20. Genetic Engineering

Genetic modification of food using biotechnology is called genetic engineering. Genetic
modification of food results in increased toxins and diseases as genes from an allergic plant can
transfer to the target plant. Genetically modified crops can cause serious environmental problems
as an engineered gene may prove toxic to wildlife.
Another drawback is that increased use of toxins to make insect resistant plants can cause
resultant organisms to become resistant to antibiotics.

The need for change in our daily lives and the movements of our government is growing.
Since so many different factors come into play, such as voting, governmental issues, the desire
to stick to a routine, many people don’t consider that what they do will affect future generations.
If humans continue moving forward the way we do now, towards the future, then there will be no
future at all to consider. Although humans are somehow already trying, there are still so many
things we can do to try and put a dent in what we already know. By raising awareness in your
local community and within your families about these issues, you can help contribute to a more
environmentally conscious and friendly place for you and your future generations to live.

Readings:
The Future of Renewable Energy: Innovation for a Cleaner World
https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/15-current-environmental-problems.php

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Lesson 14: Climate Change and the Energy Crisis

COURSE MATERIALS:

Climate Change

Climate is sometimes mistaken for weather. But climate is different from weather
because it is measured over a long period of time, whereas weather can change from day to day,
or from year to year. The climate of an area includes seasonal temperature and rainfall averages,
and wind patterns. Different places have different climates. A desert, for example, is referred to
as an arid climate because little water falls, as rain or snow, during the year. Other types of climate
include tropical climates, which are hot and humid, and temperate climates, which have warm
summers and cooler winters.
Climate change is the long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns
in a place. It is said to be caused by increasing amount of greenhouses gases particularly carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere. Naturally, greenhouse gases trap enough heat so that during night
when there is no source of heat energy particularly the sun, heat on earth is still enough for all
the organisms to survive. However, due to human made activities, the increase in these gases
lead to over trapping of heat that is resulting to global warming causing worldwide climate change.
Climate change could refer to a particular location or the planet as a whole. Climate
change may cause weather patterns to be less predictable. These unexpected weather patterns
can make it difficult to maintain and grow crops in regions that rely on farming because expected
temperature and rainfall levels can no longer be relied on. Climate change has also been
connected with other damaging weather events such as more frequent and more intense
hurricanes, floods, downpours, and winter storms.
In Polar Regions, the warming global temperatures associated with climate change have
meant ice sheets and glaciers are melting at an accelerated rate from season to season. This
contributes to sea levels rising in different regions of the planet. Together with expanding ocean
waters due to rising temperatures, the resulting rise in sea level has begun to damage coastlines
as a result of increased flooding and erosion.
The cause of current climate change is largely human activity, like burning fossil fuels, like
natural gas, oil, and coal. Burning these materials releases greenhouse gases into
Earth’s atmosphere causing the average temperature to rise. This warming of the planet impacts
local and regional climates. Throughout Earth's history, climate is really changing but when
occurring naturally, this is a slow process that has taken place over hundreds and thousands of
years. Unfortunately, human influence this world wide climate to change at a much faster rate.
One of the top contributory to greenhouse gases are power plants that use non renewable
energy sources like coals and fossil fuels. This issue has been acknowledge by stakeholders
forcing them to consider alternative sources of energy like clean energy sources. Aside from
environmental impacts, this is timely since non renewable sources actually are already on the
verge of being unavailable due to humans’ over consumptions leading to worldwide energy crisis.

Energy Crisis

The energy crisis refers to the fact that sooner or later we may run out of energy. There
is the danger that humans may experience severe energy shortages in the coming decades. This
may result in shortages of power, difficulties with agriculture and so on.
From time immemorial people have used cow-dung and firewood as the main sources of energy.
Later they have begun to use coal and petroleum and most recently nuclear and solar energy.

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 The rise in consumption of petroleum and its products during the last two decades has
increased very much and the stock of petroleum and other sources of energy are fast depleting.
In fact, the world has become frightened over the energy crisis. The oil-producing countries have
held the whole world to collect money and have increased the price of oil manifolds recently,
hitting specially the developing and underdeveloped countries below their bets.

Causes

The causes of energy shortages include:

• Over-reliance on non renewable energy sources.

• Poor energy infrastructure.
• Some countries siphoning energy off from others.
• Poor energy efficiency.
• Overuse of energy.

Impact of Energy Crisis

This crisis of conventional energy source is standing on the way of socio-economic

growth in the developing and underdeveloped countries. Of petroleum products, diesel and
kerosene are much more extensively used in India to run pump-sets and tractors in agricultural
fields and domestic usages. At the present rate of consumption, the source of all conventional
energy are depleting at a faster rate.

Solution of Energy Crisis

It is heartening to note that scientists and technologists have taken steps to face the crisis.
They are advising both short and long-term measures.
We can solve the problem of energy crisis, if we do the simple acts as below:
1. Use less energy.
2. Improve energy infrastructure.
3. Save energy where possible.
4. Rely less on fossil fuels.
5. Switch to renewable energy.
6. Go vegan – vegan foods are less energy intensive to produce.
7. Fly less.
8. Drive less.
9. Take public transport.
10. Campaign to improve awareness of the energy crisis.
11. Educate others about the energy crisis.
12. Install energy-efficient appliances in the home.
13. Save water.
14. Do not waste food.
15. Insulate your property.

In the rural areas people are being advised to use more agricultural wastes and
cow-dung. Bio-gas plants should have to be encouraged for cooking and lighting
purpose. Hydroelectric power stations, though they produce only few percentage of the total

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power in the Philippines, should be encouraged further. Geological explorations are to be
intensified for locating deposits of natural gas. But the most interesting is that in this moment of
crisis scientists have already started works to preserve atomic and solar energy, an endless
source of energy. They have already developed solar cooking range though not commercially.

Renewable or Clean Energy Sources:

Renewable energy is energy that has been derived from earth’s natural resources that are not
finite or exhaustible, such as wind and sunlight. Renewable energy is an alternative to the
traditional energy that relies on fossil fuels, and it tends to be much less harmful to the
environment. These are also known as clean energy since when used, these types of energy are
known to emit very minimal environmental harms

1. Solar.
Solar energy is derived by capturing radiant energy from sunlight and converting it into
heat, electricity, or hot water. Photovoltaic (PV) systems can convert direct sunlight into electricity
through the use of solar cells.

Benefits

One of the benefits of solar energy is that sunlight is functionally endless. With the
technology to harvest it, there is a limitless supply of solar energy, meaning it could render
fossil fuels obsolete. Relying on solar energy rather than fossil fuels also helps us improve
public health and environmental conditions. In the long term, solar energy could also
eliminate energy costs, and in the short term, reduce your energy bills.

Current Limitations

Although solar energy will save you money in the long run, it tends to be a
significant upfront cost and is an unrealistic expenses for most households. For personal
homes, homeowners also need to have the ample sunlight and space to arrange their
solar panels, which limits who can realistically adopt this technology at the individual level.

2. Wind

Wind farms capture the energy of wind flow by using turbines and converting it into
electricity. There are several forms of systems used to convert wind energy and each vary.
Commercial grade wind-powered generating systems can power many different organizations,
while single-wind turbines are used to help supplement pre-existing energy organizations.
Another form is utility-scale wind farms, which are purchased by contract or wholesale.
Technically, wind energy is a form of solar energy. The phenomenon we call “wind” is caused by
the differences in temperature in the atmosphere combined with the rotation of Earth and the
geography of the planet.

Benefits

Wind energy is a clean energy source, which means that it doesn’t pollute the air like other
forms of energy. Wind energy doesn’t produce carbon dioxide, or release any harmful
products that can cause environmental degradation or negatively affect human health like
smog, acid rain, or other heat-trapping gases. Investment in wind energy technology can

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 also open up new avenues for jobs and job training, as the turbines on farms need to be
serviced and maintained to keep running.

Current Limitations

Since wind farms tend to be built in rural or remote areas, they are usually far from bustling
cities where the electricity is needed most. Wind energy must be transported via transition
lines, leading to higher costs. Although wind turbines produce very little pollution, some
cities oppose them since they dominate skylines and generate noise. Wind turbines also
threaten local wildlife like birds, which are sometimes killed by striking the arms of the
turbine while flying.

3. Hydroelectric

Dams are what people most associate when it comes to hydroelectric power. Water flows
through the dam’s turbines to produce electricity, known as pumped-storage hydropower. Run-
of-river hydropower uses a channel to funnel water through rather than powering it through a dam.

Benefits

Hydroelectric power is very versatile and can be generated using both large scale projects,
like the Hoover Dam, and small scale projects like underwater turbines and lower dams
on small rivers and streams. Hydroelectric power does not generate pollution, and
therefore is a much more environmentally-friendly energy option for our environment.

Current Limitations

Although hydroelectric power does not pollute the air, it disrupts waterways and negatively
affects the animals that live in them, changing water levels, currents, and migration paths
for many fish and other freshwater ecosystems.

4. Geothermal

Geothermal heat is heat that is trapped beneath the earth’s crust from the formation of the
Earth 4.5 billion years ago and from radioactive decay. Sometimes large amounts of this heat
escapes naturally, but all at once, resulting in familiar occurrences, such as volcanic eruptions
and geysers. This heat can be captured and used to produce geothermal energy by using steam
that comes from the heated water pumping below the surface, which then rises to the top and can
be used to operate a turbine.

Benefits

Geothermal energy is not as common as other types of renewable energy sources, but it
has a significant potential for energy supply. Since it can be built underground, it leaves
very little footprint on land. Geothermal energy is naturally replenished and therefore does
not run a risk of depleting (on a human timescale).

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 Current Limitations

Cost plays a major factor when it comes to disadvantages of geothermal energy. Not only
is it costly to build the infrastructure, but another major concern is its vulnerability to
earthquakes in certain regions of the world.

5. Ocean

The ocean can produce two types of energy: thermal and mechanical. Ocean thermal energy
relies on warm water surface temperatures to generate energy through a variety of different
systems. Ocean mechanical energy uses the ebbs and flows of the tides to generate energy,
which is created by the earth’s rotation and gravity from the moon.

Benefits

Unlike other forms of renewable energy, wave energy is predictable and it’s easy to
estimate the amount of energy that will be produced. Instead of relying on varying factors,
such as sun and wind, wave energy is much more consistent. This type of renewable
energy is also abundant, the most populated cities tend to be near oceans and harbors,
making it easier to harness this energy for the local population. The potential of wave
energy is an astounding as yet untapped energy resource.

Current Limitations

Those who live near the ocean definitely benefit from wave energy, but those who live in
landlocked states won’t have ready access to this energy. Another disadvantage to ocean
energy is that it can disturb the ocean’s many delicate ecosystems. Although it is a very
clean source of energy, large machinery needs to be built nearby to help capture this form
energy, which can cause disruptions to the ocean floor and the sea life that habitats it.
Another factor to consider is weather, when rough weather occurs it changes the
consistency of the waves, thus producing lower energy output when compared to normal
waves without stormy weather.

6. Hydrogen

Hydrogen needs to be combined with other elements, such as oxygen to make water as it does
not occur naturally as a gas on its own. When hydrogen is separated from another element it can
be used for both fuel and electricity.

Benefits

Hydrogen can be used as a clean burning fuel, which leads to less pollution and a cleaner
environment. It can also be used for fuel cells which are similar to batteries and can be
used for powering an electric motor.

Current Limitations

Since hydrogen needs energy to be produced, it is inefficient when it comes to preventing

pollution.

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7. Biomass

Bioenergy is a renewable energy derived from biomass. Biomass is organic matter that
comes from recently living plants and organisms. Using wood in your fireplace is an example of
biomass that most people are familiar with.
There are various methods used to generate energy through the use of biomass. This can be
done by burning biomass, or harnessing methane gas which is produced by the natural
decomposition of organic materials in ponds or even landfills.

Benefits

The use of biomass in energy production creates carbon dioxide that is put into the air,
but the regeneration of plants consumes the same amount of carbon dioxide, which is said
to create a balanced atmosphere. Biomass can be used in a number of different ways in
our daily lives, not only for personal use, but businesses as well. This energy came from
wood, biofuels like ethanol, and energy generated from methane captured from landfills
or by burning municipal waste.

Current Limitations

Although new plants need carbon dioxide to grow, plants take time to grow. We also don’t
yet have widespread technology that can use biomass in lieu of fossil fuels.

Renewable Energy: What Can You Do?

As a consumer you have several opportunities to make an impact on improving the

environment through the choice of a greener energy solution. If you’re a homeowner, you have
the option of installing solar panels in your home. Solar panels not only reduce your energy costs,
but help improve your standard of living with a safer, more eco-friendlier energy choice that
doesn’t depend on resources that harm the environment. There are also alternatives for a greener
way of life offered by your electric companies.

The Philippines, geologically, is a very strategic country when it comes to renewable

sources of energy since we are surrounded by water, near the equator and sits on the pacific ring
of fire. Ironically, however our current status suggests that majority of our energy sources still
come from non renewable like coal and fossil fuels. Although there are initiatives taken by the
government as to producing clean energy, financial, economic and some related factors still
hinder us on achieving such. It is our task as citizens of this country to take necessary actions,
even small steps, even our own simple ways to help our country conserve energy and maximize
what we have right now without harming the environment.

ACTIVITY/ASSESSMENT:

1. Form a group as instructed and Choose any environmental problem listed above or any
topic that you see fit and out of it, create a 2-4 minute video promoting environmental
awareness. Your video should include but not limited to the following:

a. Brief discussion or definition of the environmental problem chosen.

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 b. Existing conditions in the Philippines
c. Solutions provided by the government
d. Solutions abroad
e. Your own contribution to lessen if not totally solve the mentioned environmental
condition.

For additional inputs, you can also watch:

Watch “2 degrees : Panahon na” by Dingdong Dantes and write an essay about climate change
and how it affects particularly Philippines.

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