ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION since the 1950s are unprecedented in the

instrumental temperature record, which extends

GLOBAL WARMING
back to the mid-19th century, and in paleoclimate
GLOBAL WARMING proxy records covering thousands of
years(IPCC2013).
LESSON 1
In 2013, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
GLOBAL WARMING Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report concluded
that "It is extremely likely that human influence has
objectives
been the dominant cause of the observed warming
At the end of the lesson, the students should do the since the mid-20th century (IPCC Climate Change,
following: 2013). The largest human influence has been the
emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon
1. Define global warming, dioxide, methane and
2. Describe global warming, oxide. Climate model projections summarized in the
3. Give the effects of global warming, indicated that during the 21st century, the global
surface erature is likely to rise a further 0.3 to 1.7 °C
4. Explain what effect is, (0.5 to 3.1 °F) 2) and lowest emissions scenario, and
2.6 to 4.8 °C (4.7 to 8.6 °F) sphere highest emissions
green
scenario (IPCC Climate Change, 2013). Off the tonal
5. Define climate change, science academies of the major industrialized
nations these findings (Joint Science Academies,
6. Differentiate mitigation and adaptation, 2014) and are disputed by any scientific body of
7. Identify the 7 Principles of Environment, and 8. national or international (Climate Change Vital Signs
Identify the different Environment Laws. of the Planet, 2017; www. ace-ca.gov, 2014).

Introduction Future climate change and associated impacts will

differ there region to region (IPC Climate Change,
Global warming occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2) 2014; Solomon, et. Al, Increasing global
and other air pollutants and greenhouse gases temperatures, rising sea levels, changing
collect in the atmosphere and absorb sunlight and ANCIPITATION, and expansion of deserts in the
solar radiation that have bounced off the earth's subtropics are the anticipated effects (Zeng & Yoon,
surface. Normally, this radiation would escape into 2009). Warming is expected be greater over land
space- but these pollutants, which can last for years than over the oceans and greatest in the
to centuries in the atmosphere, trap the heat and with the continuing retreat of glaciers, permafrost
cause the planet to get hotter. That's what's known and sea Other likely changes include more
as the greenhouse effect. (https://www.nrdc.org). frequent extreme weather such as heat waves,
droughts, heavy rainfall with floods and heavy
It is the gradual heating of earth's surface, oceans
snowfall; (Christopher, 2010); ocean acidification;
and atmosphere, which is caused by human activity,
and It species extinctions due to shifting
primarily burning of fossil fuels that pump carbon
temperature regimes. Threat to od security from
dioxide (CO2), methane and other green gases into
decreasing crop yields and the abandonment of
the atmosphere.
polluted areas due to rising sea levels are the effects
Despite political controversy about climate change, a significant humans (Battistti & Naylor, 2009; U.S.
major report released September 27, 2013, by the NRC, 2012). Because of climate change system has a
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) large "inertia" and greenhouse gases will main in the
stated that scientists are more certain than ever of atmosphere for a long time, many of these effects
the link between activities and global warming. More will resist for not only decades or centuries, but for
than 197 international scientific organizations agree tens of thousands years to come (Peter, et. Al, 2016).
that global warming is real, and has been caused by
Possible societal responses to global warming
human action.
include by emissions reduction,
Global warming, is also referred to as climate adaptation to its effects, building systems resilient to
change. It is the observed century-scale rise in the its effects, and possible future nations Framework
average temperature of the Earth's climate system, Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UNFCC,
and its related effects according to Gillis (2015), 2011) whose ultimate objective is to prevent
(Oxford Dictionary, 2017). Multiple lines of scientific dangerous
evidence show that the climate system is warming NFCCC 2017, parties to the UNFCCC have agreed that
(Hartman,2013; EPA, 2017; & Climate Change deep cuts in emissions are required
Evidence, 2017). Many of the observed changes
UNFCC, 2011) and that global warming should be "Since the most damage by far comes from the most
limited to well below 2.0 °C (3.6 °F) compared to pre- intense hurricanes - Such as typhoon Haiyan in the
industrial levels, with efforts made to limit warming Philippines in 2013 - this means that Hurricanes
to 1.5 °C (2.7 °F). could become overall more destructive," said Sobel,
a Columbia University professor in the departments
Effects are also increasing relative to public reactions
of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Applied
to global warming and concern. A global 2015 Pew
Physics and Applied Mathematics. (Hurricanes are
Research Center report showed that a median of
called typhoons in the western North Pacific, and
54% of all respondents asked consider it "a very
they're called cyclones in the South Pacific and
serious problem". Significant regional differences
Indian oceans.
exist, with Americans and Chinese (whose
economies are responsible for the greatest annual What Is the Greenhouse Effect?
CO2 emissions) among the least concerned (Strokes,
By Marc Lallanila | March 7, 2018
2015).
Earth enjoys these temperatures because of its
Effects of Global Warming
atmosphere, which is the thin layer of gases that
The following are the effects of global warming: cloak and protect the planet, while other planets in
Earth's solar system are either scorching hot or
1. Melting glaciers, early snowmelt, and severe
bitterly cold, Earth's surface has relatively mild,
droughts will cause more dramatic water shortages
stable temperatures.
and increase the risk of wildfires in the American
West. However, 97 percent of climate scientists agree that
humans have changed Earth's atmosphere in
2. Rising sea levels will lead to coastal flooding on
dramatic ways over the past two centuries, resulting
the Eastern Seaboard, especially in Florida, and in
in global warming. To understand global warming,
other areas such as the Gulf of Mexico.
it's first necessary to become familiar with the
3. Forests, farms, and cities will face troublesome greenhouse effect, though.
new pests, heat waves, heavy downpours, and
Energy In, Energy Out
increased flooding. All those factors will damage or
destroy agriculture and fisheries. There's a delicate balancing act occurring every day
all across the Earth, involving the radiation the
4. Disruption of habitats such as coral reefs and planet receives from space and the radiation that's
Alpine meadows could drive many plant and animal
reflected back out to space.
species to extinction.
Earth is constantly bombarded with enormous
5. Allergies, asthma, and infectious disease
amounts of radiation primarily from the sun. The
outbreaks will become more common due to
Earth's atmosphere in the form of visible light, is
increased growth of pollen-producing ragweed,
stricken by solar radiation, plus, ultraviolet (UV),
higher levels of air pollution, and the spread of
infrared (IR) and other types of radiation that are
conditions favorable to pathogens and mosquitoes.
invisible to the human eye.
6. Global warming is having a measurable effect on
UV radiation has a shorter wavelength and a higher
the planet.
energy level than visible light, while IR radiation has
7.There is increase in average temperatures and a longer wavelength and a weaker energy level.
temperature extremes. The average global About 30 percent of the radiation striking Earth's
temperature has increased by about 1.4 degrees atmosphere is immediately reflected back out to
Fahrenheit (0.8 degrees Celsius) over the past 100 space by clouds, ice, snow, sand and other reflective
years, according to the National Oceanic and surfaces, according to NASA. The remaining 70
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). percent of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by
the oceans, the land and the atmosphere. As they
8, Changes in climate can cause the polar jet stream - heat up, the oceans, land and atmosphere release
the boundary between the cold North Pole air and heat in the form of IR thermal radiation, which
the warm equatorial air - to migrate south, bringing passes out of the atmosphere and into space.
with it cold snap or colder-than-normal winter, even
during the the long-term trend of global warming, It's this equilibrium of incoming and outgoing
Werne explained. radiation that makes the Earth habitable, with an
average temperature of about 59 degrees
9. Global warming may also lead to extreme weather Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius). According to NASA
other than cold or heat extremes. For example, without this atmospheric equilibrium, Earth would
hurricane formations will change. be as cold and lifeless as its moon, or as blazing hot
as Venus. The moon, which has almost no
atmosphere, is about minus 243 F (minus 153 C) on atmospheric levels of CO2 reached 400 ppm was
its dark side: Venus, on the other hand, has a very during the Pliocene Epoch, between 5 million and 3
dense atmosphere that traps solar radiation; the million years ago, according to the University of
average temperature on Venus is about 864 F (462 California, San Diego's Scripps
C).
The greenhouse effect, combined with increasing
The Greenhous Effect levels of greenhouse gases and the resulting global
warming, is expected to have profound implications,
The exchange of incoming and outgoing radiation
according to the near-universal consensus of
that warms the Earth is often referred to as the
scientists.
greenhouse effect because greenhouse works in
much the same way. If global warming continues unchecked, it will cause
significant climate change, a rise in sea levels,
Incoming UV radiation easily passes through the
increasing ocean acidification, extreme weather
glass walls of a greenhouse and is absorbed by the events and other severe natural and Societal
plants and hard surfaces inside. IR radiation which is
impacts, according to NASA, the EPA and other
weaker, has difficulty passing through the glass walls
scientific and governmental bodies.
and is trapped inside, thus warming the greenhouse.
This effect lets tropical plants thrive inside a There are those that say that gases are not the cause
greenhouse, even during a cold winter. of global warming, though that goes against the
opinion of the global scientific community. "I think
THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT
that measuring with precision human activity on the
In a car parked outside on a cold, sunny day, a climate is something very challenging to do, and
similar phenomenon takes place. Incoming solar there's tremendous disagreement about the degree
radiation warms the car's interior, but outgoing of impact. So no, I would not agree that it's a primary
thermal radiation is trapped inside the car's closed contributor to the global warming that we see," EPA
windows. chief Scott Pruitt told CNBC's morning news show
"Squawk Box" March 9, 2017.
Gases in the atmosphere can reflect or trap heat
energy, much like what happens in a greenhouse for Can the Greenhouse Effect be Reversed?
plants. (Ross Toro, Livescience contributor)
Many scientists agree that the damage to the Earth's
Greenhouse Gases and Global Warming atmosphere and climate is past the point of no
return or that the damage is near the point of no
"Gas molecules that absorb thermal infrared return. "I agree that we have passed the point of
radiation, and are in significant enough quantity, can avoiding climate change," Josef Werne, an associate
force the climate system. These type of gas professor at the Department of Geology & Planetary
molecules are called greenhouse gases,' Michael Science at the University of Pittsburgh told Live
Daley, an associate professor of Environmental Science. In Werne's opinion, three options from this
Science at Lasell College told Live Science. Carbon point forward:
dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases act like a
blanket, absorbing IR radiation and preventing it 1. Do nothing and live with the consequences.
from escaping into outer space. The net effect is the
2. Adapt to the changing climate (which includes
gradual heating of Earth's atmosphere and surface, a
things like rising
process known as global warming.
3. sea level and related flooding). the impact of
These greenhouse gases include water vapor, CO2,
climate change by aggressively enacting policies that
methane, nitrous oxide (N2O) and other gases,
actually reduce the concentration of CO2 in the
according to the Environmental Protection Agency
Mitigate atmosphere.
(EPA). Since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution in
the early 1800s, the burning of fossil fuels like coal, Keith Peterman, a professor of chemistry at York
oil and gasoline have greatly increased the College of Pennsylvania, and Gregory Foy, an
concentration of greenhouse gases in the associate professor of chemistry at York College of
atmosphere, especially CO2, National Oceanic and Pennsylvania, think that the damage isn't to that
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). "Deforestation point yet, and that international agreements and
is the second largest anthropogenic source of carbon action can save the planet's atmosphere.
dioxide to the atmosphere ranging between 6
Currently, some scientists are investigating how to
percent and 17 percent," said Daley.
re- engineer the atmosphere to reverse global
More than 40 percent of atmospheric CO2 has warming. For example, theories published in the
increased since the beginning of the Industrial journal Science in July 2017 by lrike Lohmann and
Revolution, from about 280 parts per million (ppm) Blaž Gasparini, researchers at the Institute of
in the 1800s to 400 ppm today. The last time Earth's Atmospheric and Climate Science at ETH Zurich in
Switzerland, proposed reducing cirrus clouds that The IPCC describes vulnerability to climate change as
trap heat. being determined by three factors: exposure to
hazards (such as reduced rainfall), sensitivity to
"If cirrus clouds behave like a blanket around the
those hazards (such as an economy dominated by
Earth, you're trying to get rid of that blanket," rain-fed agriculture), and the capacity to adapt to
Lohmann, a professor-of experimental atmospheric
those hazards (for example, whether farmers have
physics at ETH Zurich, told Live Science. [Cool the
the money or skills to grow more drought-resistant
Planet? Geoengineering Is Easier Said Than Done]
crops). Adaptation measures can help reduce
"You remove the water vapor, you remove the
vulnerability - for example by lowering sensitivity
humidity and you prevent the normal cirrus cloud
building adaptive capacity - as well as allowing
formation," Lohmann said.
populations to benefit from opportunities of climatic
Climate Change changes, such as growing or new crops in areas that
were previously unsuitable.
Climate change is a change in the statistical
distribution of weather patterns when that change Low-income countries tend to be more vulnerable to
lasts for an extended period of time (i.e., decades to climate risks and some adaptation measures - such
millions of years). Climate change may refer to a as increasing access to education and health facilities
change in average weather conditions, or in the time I will overlap with existing development programs.
variation of weather around longer-term average But adaptation goes beyond just development to
conditions (i.e., more or fewer extreme weather include measures to address additional risks
events). specifically caused by climate change, such as raising
Climate change adaptation is a broad category of the height of sea defences. It is still unclear how
ideas, technologies, practices, services, and more, expensive these measures will be or who will pay for
related to coping with the challenges created by them, but the World Bank suggests adaptation could
climate change: increased drought, increased cost the same again as the world currently spends on
flooding, sea level rise, desertification, severe development assistance (Fisher, 2012).
storms, spread of disease, spread of pests,
Grenada Grenada Adapts to Climate Change. Now!
biodiversity loss, and more.
Jpeg adaptation-undp.org
There are two main policy responses to climate
change: mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation O CLIMATE Z CHANGE ADAPTATION
addresses the root causes, by reducing greenhouse
picstopin.com
gas emissions, while adaptation seeks to lower the
risks posed by the consequences of climatic changes. Climate change adaptation is a response to global
warming and climate change, that seeks to reduce
Both approaches will be necessary, because even if
the vulnerability of social and biological systems to
emissions are dramatically decreased in the next
relatively sudden change and thus offset f the effects
decade, adaptation will still be needed to deal with
of global warming. Even if emissions are stabilized
the global changes that have already been set in
motion. Relatively soon global warming and its effect should
last many years, and adaptation would be necessary
Humans have been adapting to their environments
to the resulting changes in climate, (. Clarke, L.; et
throughout history by developing practices, cultures
al.July 2007). Adaptation is especially important in
and livelihoods suited to local conditions -from the
developing countries since those countries are
Mediterranean siesta to the Vietnamese practice of
according to Gallup International (19 April 2011). The
building homes on stilts to protect against
capacity and potential for humans to adapt (called
monsoonal rains. However, climate change raises
adaptive capacity) is unevenly distributed across
the possibility that existing societies will experience
different regions and populations, and developing
climatic shifts (in temperature, storm frequency,
countries generally have less capacity to adapt (IAEA,
flooding and other factors) that previous experience
2008). Furthermore, the degree of adaptation
has not prepared them for.
correlates to the situational focus on environmental
Adaptation measures may be planned in advance or issues according to Hansen, J.; et al. (2013).
put in place spontaneously in response to a local Therefore, adaptation requires the situational
pressure. They include - such as building defences assessment of sensitivity and vulnerability to
large-scale infrastructure changes to protect against environmental impacts, (Ipcc tar wg3, 2001).
sea-level rise or improving the quality of road
Adaptive capacity is closely linked to social and
surfaces to withstand hotter temperatures - as well
economic development according to the IPCC (2007).
behavioral shifts such as individuals using less water,
The economic costs of adaptation to climate change
farmers planting different Crops and more
are likely to cost billions of dollars annually for the
households and businesses buying flood insurance.
next several decades, though the amount of money expanding forests and other "sinks" to remove
needed is unknown. Donor countries promised an greater amounts of carbon dioxide from the
annual $100 billion by 2020 through the Green atmosphere (IAEA, 2008). Energy efficiency may also
Climate Fund for developing countries to adapt to play a role (Ipcc ar4 wg1, 2007), for example,
climate change. However, while the fund was set up through improving the insulation of buildings, (Ipcc
during COP16 in Cancún, concrete pledges by ar4 wg2 (2007). Another approach to climate change
developed Countries have not been forthcoming, mitigation is climate engineering, (Ipcc ar4 wg3,
(Ipcc ar4 wg2, 2007) & (Ipcc ar4 wg3, 2007). The 2007).
adaptation challenge grows with the magnitude and
Most countries are parties to the United Nations
the rate of climate change.
Framework Convention on Climate Change
Another response to climate change is known as (UNFCCC), (Ipcc ar4 syr, 2007). The ultimate
climate change mitigation according to Ipcc ar4 syr objective of the UNFCCC is to stabilize atmospheric
(2007). It advocates to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations of GHGs at a level that would prevent
emissions or enhance the removal of s from the dangerous human interference of the climate
atmosphere (through carbon sinks) (IPCC AR5 WG2 system, (IPCC AR5 WG2 A., 2014). Scientific analysis
A, 2014). Even the most effective reductions in can provide information on the impacts of dimate
emissions, however, would not prevent further change, but deciding which impacts are dangerous
climate change impacts, making the need for requires value judgments, (IPCC AR5 WG3, 2014).
adaptation unavoidable. A study has concluded, with
Seven Environmental Principles
à confidence, that in the absence of mitigation
efforts, the effects of climate change would reach By Donna Paz T. Reyes Environmental Studies
such a magnitude as to make adaptation impossible Institute Environmental Studies Institute Miriam
for some natural ecosystems. Others are concerned College
that climate adaptation programs might interfere
with. 1, Nature Knows Best

the existing development programs and thus lead to The natural water cycle
unintended consequences for vulnerable groups.[13]
Condensation
For human systems, the economic and social costs of
unmitigated climate change would be very high, Evapotranspiration
(Opperman, et.al., 2009). Climate change mitigation
consists of actions to limit the magnitude or rate of Bedrock
long-term climate change, (Gallup International, Evaporation
2011). Climate change mitigation generally involves
reductions in human (anthropogenic) emissions of Source: Knight Gibran Source: blueprint.nsw.edu.au
greenhouse gases (GHGs) (IAEA, 2008). Mitigation
a. Any disruption of the natural processes/cycles
may also be achieved by increasing the capacity of
would have detrimental effects on the environment.
carbon sinks, e.g., through reforestation, (IAEA,
2008). Mitigation policies can substantially reduce b. We cannot command Nature except by obeying
the risks associated with human-induced global her. ~Francis Bacon.
warming (.[Hansen, J.; et al. (2013).
Any disruption of the natural processes/cycles would
According to the IPCC's 2014 assessment report, have detrimental effects on the environment.
"Mitigation is a public good; climate change is a case
of the 'tragedy of the commons'. Effective climate 2. All Forms of Life are important
change mitigation will not be achieved if each agent a. Each organism has a role:
(individual, institution or country) acts
independently in its own selfish suggesting the need b. Nature's decomposer Nature's pest control
for collective action. Some adaptation actions, on
C. Human activity is rapidly depleting the number of
the other hand, have characteristics of a private
plant and animal species that live on the planet.
good as benefits of actions may accrue more directly
Industry and agricultural depend on this biological
to the individuals, regions, or countries that
diversity for many of their needs.
undertake them, at least in the short term.
Nevertheless, financing such adaptive activities 3. Everything is connected to everything else.
remains an issue, particularly for poor individuals
and countries (Ipcc tar wg3, 2001). Excerpts from the letter of Chief Seattle in 1845 sent
to the President of the United States
Examples of mitigation include phasing out fossil
fuels by switching to low-carbon energy sources, 4.Every part of this earth is sacred, every shining
such as renewable and nuclear energy, and pine needle, every sandy shore, every clearing and
humming insect is holy The rocky crest, the juices of
the meadow, the beast and all the people, all belong a. It just means that there is only so much of it. If it
to the same family was infinite it would be limitless. Finite resource in
other words can be termed as a source by which
b. Teach the children that the earth befalls the
people have taken 100% advantage and further it
children of the cannot be utilized.
earth.
Our entire society rests upon and is dependent upon
Excerpts from the letter of Chief Seattle in 1845 sent our water, our lands, our forests, and our minerals.
to the President of the United States How we use these resources influences our health,
economy and well-being (John F. Kennedy).
a. The wind gave our children the spirit of life. This
we know, the earth does not belong to us; we belong 7. Nature is beautiful and we are stewards of God's
to the earth. This we know, all things are connected. creation.
Our God is the same God, whose connected. Our
STEWARDS OF CREATION
God is the same God, whose compassion is equal to
all. Sources: Projectaugustine.com Source:
jonsherwood.com Source: rabbisacks.org
For we did not weave the web of life;
STEWARDSHIP
We are merely a strand in it.
a. Nature is beautiful and we are all Stewards of
Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
God's Creation
Ecosystem
COOPERATION
a.
a.Improvement and management of the
Any unit that includes all of the organisms in a given environment at all levels involve the concerted effort
area interacting with the physical environment of many people.
within the system
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
4. Everything changes.
a. Economic activities may be pursued without
When was Lord Speaks Ever Youm Changes jeopardizing the survival of future generations and
not at the expense of a degraded environment.
Source: hopefamilyfellowship.com Source:
istockphoto.com ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

"I am

"Nothing lasts forever. That's the tragedy and the Environmental law, also known as environmental
miracle of existence-that everything is impermanent. and natural resources law, is a collective term
Everything changes. All we can do is make the best describing the network of treaties, statutes,
of the time we have. And go down shooting, regulations, common and customary laws addressing
naturally". By Mira Grant (quotemaster.org.) the effects of human activity on the natural
environment. The core environmental law regimes
Global atmospheric concentrations of CO2, methane address environmental pollution. A related but
(CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) have increased distinct set of regulatory regimes, now strongly
markedly as a (N2O) have increased markedly as a influenced by environmental legal principles, focus
result of human activities since 1750 and now far on the management of specific natural resources,
exceed pre-industrial values determined from ice such as forests, minerals, or fisheries. Other areas,
cores spanning many thousands of years. such as environmental impact assessment, may not
fit neatly into either category, but are nonetheless
5. Everything goes somewhere
important components of environmental law.
a. Stuff doesn't exist in some sort of undefined
Those who have violated environmental laws will be
space. A thing (any thing) must be located
held accountable, the Philippine environmental laws
somewhere. In ecological terms, that means it must
and government regulations are in place with the
have some sort of interactions with both living and
intent of protecting the environment and aid people
non-living parts of the world around it. In a
from all walks of life on their pursuit to a balance
household, anything that's not in an "appropriate"
and health ecology.
place gets moved to a "better" place or is discarded.
It stretches the analogy a bit to try to fit it to Indeed, the environment has become such an
ecology, but it's not grotesquely different. important issue. It is imperative that people should
be fully informed on what the relevant
6. Ours is a finite earth.
environmental laws are, so that they may be fully
aware on what are allowed and what are prohibited 7. R.A. 6969 - Philippine Toxic Substances and
in relation to the actions they take towards the Hazardous and Nuce Lear Waste Act of 1990.
environment. (Envir0onbmental Management,
This act shall cover the importation, manufacture,
Bureau IX, Zamboanga Peninsula)
processing, handling, storage, transportation, sale,
1. P.D. 1586 - The Philippine Environmental Impact distribution, use and disposal of all unregulated
Statement System. chemical substances and mixtures in the Philippines,
including the entry, even in transit as well as the
This law requires private corporations, firms or
keeping or storage and disposal of hazardous and
entities including agencies and instrumentalities of
nuclear wastes into the country for whatever
the government to prepare an Environmental Impact
purpose.
System (EIS) for every proposed project and
undertaking which significantly affect the quality of 8. R.A. 9729- Climate Change Act of 2009.
environment.
It is an act mainstreaming climate change into
2. R.A. 8749- Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1999. government policy formulations, establishing the
framework strategy and program on climate change,
It provides for a comprehensive air quality
creating for this purpose the climate change
management policy and program which aims to
commission, and for other purposes.
achieve and maintain healthy air for all Filipinos.
It is the policy of the State to afford full protection
3. R.A. 9275 - Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.
and the advancement of the right of the people to a
This law aims to protect the country's water bodies healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and
from land-based pollution sources (industries and harmony of nature. In this light, the State has
commercial, establishments, agriculture and adopted the Philippine Agenda 21 framework which
community household activities). It provides for a espouses sustainable development, to fulfill human
comprehensive and integrated strategy to prevent needs while maintaining the quality of the natural
and minimize pollution through a multi-sectoral and environment for current and future generations.
participatory approach involving all the stakeholders.
FOREST PROTECTION, CONSERVATION AND
R.A. 9003 - Philippine Ecological Solid Waste DEVELOPMENT
Management Act (PESWM).
Forest protection is the preservation or
It provides the legal framework for the country's improvement of a forest threatened or affected by
systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid abuse, or out of balance nature. Thus, forest
waste management system program that shall protection also has a legal status and rather than
ensure protection of public health and environment. protection from only people damaging the forests is
seen to be broader and include forest pathology too.
5. R.A. 9512 - Environmental Awareness and
Education Act of 2008. WATER SANITATION AND CONSERVATION

It is an act to promote environmental awareness Water supply is the process of providing water in a
through Environmental Education (EE) and covers systematic way hrough installed pumps and pipe
the integration of EE in the school curricula at all lines. Before water is provided to a specific rea, it
levels, be it public or private including day care, pre- undergoes a process called sanitation to ensure that
school, non-formal, technical, vocational, indigenous the quality of water received is safe for human
learning and out-of-school youth courses or consumption. The Philippines' water supply system
programs. (Environmental Education and dates back to 1946 after the country achieved its
Information Section, DENR, Zamboanga City). independence. Government agencies, local
institutions, non-government organizations, and
6. R.A. 8550- Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. other corporations are primarily in charge in the
operation and administration of water Supply and
It is an act providing for the development,
sanitation in the country.
management, and conservation of fisheries and
aquatic resources, integrating all laws pertinent The Philippines' main sources of water are rivers,
thereto, and for other purposes. lakes, river basins, and groundwater reservoirs. The
longest and largest river, Cagayan River, discharges
This code makes provision for the management and
approximately 53, 943 million cubic meters of water
conservation of fisheries and aquaculture in the
annually. Its groundwater reserves are 47,895
Philippines and nor establishment of fisheries
million cubic meters replenished by rainfall and
institutions both the reconstitution at the national
seepage from rivers and lakes. The lakes are utilized
and local level.
mainly for fish cultivation. The four major
groundwater reservoirs are in Cagayan, Central
Luzon, Agusan, and Cotabato. There are 438 major Pollution is Our Pro
dams and 423 smaller dams. Dams and reservoirs
Pollution prevention is a major global blemconcern
are mainly used for: water storage, water supply,
because of its harmful effects on people's health and
irrigation, regulation of flood, and hydropower.[1]
the environment. Because we are all inhabitants on
WATER RESOURCES". www.denr.gov.ph. Retrieved
Earth, everyone is a stakeholder, and every person
2015-10-29.
has something to contribute to advance effective
The Manila metropolitan area water is mostly pollution prevention awareness. Environmental
supplied by the Angat Dam, Ipo Dam, and La Mesa protection is a natural extension of caring for
Dam (also known as Angat-Ipo-La Mesa water ourselves, loving our children, and ensuring a
system). Some of the well known and larger dams in sustainable future for generations to come.
rural areas are: Ambuklao Dam, developed for flood
control, irrigation, and hydroelectric power source of "If we heal the earth, we heal ourselves."
Baguio and some places in Luzon; and Magat Dam, a We should all, therefore, accept personal
major source of irrigation water and hydroelectric responsibility for the success of our local
power in Isabela. environmental protection programs by actively
An estimated 842,000 people die each year from participating in making our atmosphere pollution-
diseases caused by unclean water, inadequate free. And, although we can each help combat
sanitation, and poor hygiene habits. The majority of pollution in our immediate environments, we can do
these are children in developing countries. Providing more by working to change legislation and policy on
clean water, coupled with health and hygiene a larger scale.
education, is perhaps the most effective measure we Averting the onset of pollution in any area, be it in
can take in preventing infectious disease. air or water or on land, could be the simplest
Samaritan's Purse works around the world to preventive solution. If there are no pollutants, there
provide clean water and promote safe hygiene will be no pollution. And yet, this is easier said than
practices. done. Certain bad habits are entrenched and
Achieving development goals is impossible without industrial development as we know it seems to
paying attention to WASH (water, sanitation and involve an expectation of pollution. Even the
hygiene). Evidence shows that WASH improves simplest preventive approaches are often quite
children's health and ability to do well in school. It complicated, expensive, and difficult for a small
promotes gender equality, the empowerment of business to implement.
women, and the growth of poor communities. Still, there are small changes we can make on the
Poor WASH conditions lead to diarrhea, one of the individual level that make a difference, both in the
major causes of deaths among children below five short and long term.
years old. Long-term exposure to unsanitary The pollution of the planet is only an outside
environments can also cause stunting, leading to reflection of an inner psychic pollution: millions of
very poor educational outcomes. Intestinal worm unconscious individuals not taking responsibility for
infection rates in the Philippines go up to as high as their inner space. [...] Are you polluting the world or
67 per cent— higher than most countries in cleaning up the mess? You are responsible for your
Southeast Asia. inner space; nobody else is, just as you are
Schools in poor communities in the Philippines are responsible for the planet. As within, so without. If
the least served. A 2010 survey by the Department humans' clear inner pollution, then they will also
of Education (DepED) estimates that more than cease to create outer pollution.
7,000 primary schools have no steady water source - Eckhart Tolle
and more than 90,000 school toilets need to be
constructed to meet the basic standard. We have a moral and spiritual bond to the planet
that God made the source of all living things that our
Cleaning up Water Ways, Industrial and Other Sites own survival depends upon. Many urban dwellers
Such as Hospital and Esteros, etc. have lost their spiritual bond to the earth when they
https://soapboxie.com/social-issues/reduce- lose a connection to the natural environment. They
pollution can lose their inner peace too.

This entire planet is our home. We are the - Father Shay Cullen
only species that systematically destroy our own NASA reports that in the next ten months, the earth
habitat. will get hotter by four degrees. Glaciers are melting
- Marianne Williamson at rapid rates. Our climate is changing drastically and
it's getting worse.
 rechargeable batteries can seriously harm the
environment. Youth role is to implement recycling
The Role of the Youth in Environmental Protection
programs for used computers and electrical
and Man-agement
appliances. You can arrange for collection services
The youth play a vital role in the environmental with them. There are also many collection points for
protection and management because they constitute recycling of rechargeable batteries, so do not simply
a large part of the world's population and young throw them away. Youth have a role to play in
people will have to live longer with the environmental and conservation efforts that will
consequences of current environmental decisions improve livelihoods.
than will their elders. Future generations will also be
(25 Jun 2013 by Ramchandra Acharya)
affected by these decisions and the extent to which
they have addressed concerns such as the depletion
of resources, biodiversity loss, and long-lived
radioactive wastes.

Young people can play an active role in protecting

and improving the environment. They can change
their lifestyle and how it affects the environment.
They can make their homes, schools and youth
organizations more environmentally friendly by
adopting environmentally friendly practices,
recycling of different materials as well as preserving
resources such as water and electricity. Engaging
youth in environmental protection not only creates
direct impact on changing youth behaviors and
attitudes, but possibly influence their parents,
relatives and families.

Youth are back bone of the nation. They can change

the future of the society with their well being and
courageous behavior. Unfortunately today we find
the youth those who are more interested in other
places which are not useful to them as well as
nationally. They choose to spend their days doing
drugs and playing video games. They spend their
nights partying and living up, so to speak. More and
more young men of this age group are sitting at
home in front of their televisions playing games all
day instead of bettering themselves or going to
work. They have no vision and if they do have
dreams they do not have the drive to make any
attempt at achieving them.

The environment is simply defined as our

surrounding, including both living and non-living
things and youth are the young people.
Environmental protection is a broad subject
Environmental problems are rising day by day and
everyone is concerned about global warming and
climate change as globally but local and national
environmental problems are less concerned.
Protecting the environment starts with pollution
control therefore, youth can help reduce waste by
paying attention to minor details in their daily lives,
for example, not to take extra plastic bags when we
go shopping. Actually there are many other tips for
greener environment.

By applying the greening knowledge at home and

schools, we can help to market city, a greener city.
Discarding computers, electrical appliances and