Confronting Climate Change

~* Online Learning:
I learned that the problem of rapid climate change is inextricably entwined with the challenges of development. Although high-income countries first created the problem through the unbridled emission of heat-trapping gases, poor people in the developing world are feeling the impacts first and worst. Moreover, some developing countries are now major emitters, and the developing world accounts for more than half of all current greenhouse gases. To be effective, responses to climate change must address developing countries’ needs, including their right to development.
The failure of UN negotiations to reach an international accord, coupled with the failure of the United States to enact climate legislation presents the world with a scary and seemingly intractable problem: there is no Plan B for heading off a climate catastrophe. CGD’s research and policy engagement on climate and development responds to this crisis in two ways: by strengthening the intellectual foundation for an eventual accord; and by offering research, data, and analysis that policymakers and others can act upon now, in the absence of an international agreement. CGD’s climate work builds on CGD’s expertise in development assistance and deep knowledge of developing countries.

~* Online Activities:
I watched a powerpoint presentation on Climate Change from UNESCO and a video by Lyn Davis Lear on "'A World of Solutions'...or Extinction". I also read about the UN climate talks in Qatar on November 2012.

~*Online Collaboration:

I have participated in the online discussion by posting this in my blog which allows me to share my learnings to other people.

Climate Change: The Global Scenario

~* Online Learning:

I learned that Our world is always changing. Look out your window long enough, and you might see the weather change. Look even longer, and you'll see the seasons change. The Earth's climate is changing, too, but in ways that you can't easily see.
The Earth is getting warmer because people are adding heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere, mainly by burning fossil fuels. These gases are called greenhouse gases. Warmer temperatures are causing other changes around the world, such as melting glaciers and stronger storms. These changes are happening because the Earth's air, water, and land are all linked to the climate. The Earth's climate has changed before, but this time is different. People are causing these changes, which are bigger and happening faster than any climate changes that modern society has ever seen before.
The Earth's climate is getting warmer, and the signs are everywhere. Rain patterns are changing, sea level is rising, and snow and ice are melting sooner in the spring. As global temperatures continue to rise, we'll see more changes in our climate and our environment. These changes will affect people, animals, and ecosystems in many ways.
Less rain can mean less water for some places, while too much rain can cause terrible flooding. More hot days can dry up crops and make people and animals sick. In some places, people will struggle to cope with a changing environment. In other places, people may be able to successfully prepare for these changes. The negative impacts of global climate change will be less severe overall if people reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we're putting into the atmosphere and worse if we continue producing these gases at current or faster rates.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the key to solving global climate change. A major way these gases get into the atmosphere is when people burn coal, oil, and natural gas for energy. Everyone uses energy, and everyone can be part of the solution!
But don't forget that climate change is already happening. We're seeing some of the impacts now, and we'll experience more in the future. So we need to prepare and plan for the changes we know are coming.

~* Online Activities:

I watched a PowerPoint presentation on Climate Change from UNESCO and a video from NASA, and I knew and learned more about the global impact of it.

~* Online Collaboration:

I participated in this online academy, Eliademy, to broaden my knowledge about the global scenario of climate change. With this knowledge, I will use it to spread to others the good and bad things of it and to be aware of what is happening.

Climate Change: The Local Scenario

~* Online Learning:

I learned that The Philippines is now facing the very real impacts of climate change, which threaten to undermine our development prospects and exacerbate the vulnerability of our poorer communities. With projected changes in precipitation, temperature, intensity of tropical cyclones and frequency of extreme weather events, considerable efforts would be required to prepare the Philippines in dealing with the impacts of climate change on the different climate-sensitive sectors. Adaptation will be an integral part of our response to the threats of climate change.

It is important that we have a scientific basis for adaptation and vulnerability assessment studies. This Report provides us with the opportunity to understand the future changes in climate and how these changes will affect the Philippines in the future. It also illustrates the impacts of climate change on agriculture, human health, water, coastal, and forestry resources as well as adaptation efforts in each sector. 

 Climate Change in the Philippines is an important document to guide decision-makers in strategic

planning and policy formulation.

~* Online Activities:

I watched a video from the Philippines' Climate Change Academy (CCA) and presentations on Climate Change from UNESCO and CCA.

~* Online Collaboration:

I have participated in our online discussion by doing and absorbing the relevant tasks given to us and applying it to everyday life. Also, by sharing my knowledge about it to other people.

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

~* Online Learning:
I learned that the terms “adaptation” and “mitigation” are two important terms that are fundamental in the climate change debate. The IPCC defined adaptation as adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderate harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. Similarly, Mitchell and Tanner (2006) defined adaptation as an understanding of how individuals, groups and natural systems can prepare for and respond to changes in climate or their environment. According to them, it is crucial to reducing vulnerability to climate change. While mitigation tackles the causes of climate change, adaptation tackles the effects of the phenomenon. The potential to adjust in order to minimize negative impact and maximize any benefits from changes in climate is known as adaptive capacity. A successful adaptation can reduce vulnerability by building on and strengthening existing coping strategies.
In general the more mitigation there is, the less will be the impacts to which we will have to adjust, and the less the risks for which we will have to try and prepare. Conv

ersely, the greater the degree of preparatory adaptation, the less may be the impacts associated with any given degree of climate change.
For people today, already feeling the impacts of past inaction in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation is not altogether passive, rather it is an active adjustment in response to new stimuli. However, our present age has proactive options (mitigation), and must also plan to live with the consequences (adaptation) of global warming.
The idea that less mitigation means greater climatic change, and consequently requiring more adaptation is the basis for the urgency surrounding reductions in greenhouse gases. Climate mitigation and adaptation should not be seen as alternatives to each other, as they are not discrete activities but rather a combined set of actions in an overall strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

~* Online Activities
I read a powerpoint presentation about Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.

~*Online Collaboration:
I have participated in the online discussion by posting this in my blog which allows me to share my learnings to other people.

CLIMATE CHANGE: A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE

~* Online Learning:

Achieving sustainable food security in a world with a growing population, changing diets and a changing climate is a major challenge. More food is needed in the future but climate change means less food production potential and poor people will be hit the hardest. Climate-related crop failures, fishery collapses and livestock deaths already cause economic losses and undermine food security, and these are likely to become more severe as global warming continues.

The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) seeks to overcome the threats to agriculture and food security in a changing climate, exploring new ways of helping vulnerable rural communities adjust to global changes in climate. CCAFS brings together the world’s best researchers in agricultural science, climate science, environmental and social sciences to identify and address the most important interactions, synergies and trade-offs between climate change and agriculture. CCAFS is implementing a uniquely innovative and transformative research program that addresses agriculture in the context of climate variability, climate change and uncertainty about future climate conditions.

Responses need to come quickly. CCAFS integrates and applies the best and most promising approaches, tools and technologies. This initiative can only be realized with improved interactions among scientists, researchers, policy makers, civil society, and those who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Both local and global action is needed to accelerate the sharing of lessons on institutions, practices and technologies for adaptation and mitigation, with serious commitment to working in partnership, enhancing capacity and addressing societal differences. CCAFS is working across research disciplines, organizational mandates, and spatial and temporal scales to help address these pressing challenges.

~* Online Participation

I watched a video about The Effects of Climate Change in the Future.

~* Online Collaboration

I have participated in our online discussion by doing and absorbing the relevant tasks given to us and applying it to everyday life. Also, by sharing my knowledge about it to other people.

My Carbon Footprint

It's All About Carbon

~*Online Learning:

From the video I’ve watched, I learned that All living things are made of carbon. Carbon is also a part of the ocean, air, and even rocks. Because the Earth is a dynamic place, carbon does not stay still. It is on the move!

In the atmosphere, carbon is attached to some oxygen in a gas called carbon dioxide.

Plants use carbon dioxide and sunlight to make their own food and grow. The carbon becomes part of the plant. Plants that die and are buried may turn into fossil fuels made of carbon like coal and oil over millions of years. When humans burn fossil fuels, most of the carbon quickly enters the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and traps heat in the atmosphere. Without it and other greenhouse gases, Earth would be a frozen world. But humans have burned so much fuel that there is about 30% more carbon dioxide in the air today than there was about 150 years ago, and Earth is becoming a warmer place. In fact, ice cores show us that there is now more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than there has been in the last 420,000 years.

~* Online Activities:

I watched a video from NASA, entitled “It’s Al About Carbon”. NASA is a very reliable source which we can trust and get lots of significant things we have to know

~* Online Collaboration:

I participated in this online academy, Eliademy, by publishing this blog in the assigned social networking site and to broaden my knowledge carbon. With this knowledge, I can absorb the relevant tasks given to us and applying it to everyday life.

Know your Earth

~*Online Learning:

From the video I’ve watched I learned about how the planet changes. Earth's parts - land, air, water and life - are always changing. Some of the changes are natural and some are caused by humans. Scientists want to understand how Earth has changed in the past and how it is changing now. This information helps them predict how Earth might change in the future.

NASA studies Earth using satellites. Satellites look toward Earth from space. They take pictures of, and collect information about, all of Earth's parts. NASA satellites are especially good for observing clouds, oceans, land and ice. They also measure gases in the atmosphere, such as ozone and carbon dioxide. They measure how much energy enters and leaves Earth's atmosphere. And they monitor wildfires, volcanoes and their smoke.

Information gathered by NASA satellites helps scientists predict weather and climate. It also helps public health officials track disease and famine. It helps farmers decide when to plant crops and what kinds to plant. And it helps emergency workers respond to natural disasters.

The more people know about Earth and its current and predicted changes, the better decisions they can make.

~*Online Activities:

I watched a video about fascinating facts of earth NASA and a breathtaking view of the world from the space.

~*Online Collaboration:

I participated in this online academy, Eliademy, to broaden my knowledge about Earth. With this knowledge, I will use it to spread to others the good and bad things of it and to be aware of what is happening.

Climate Change for Sustainable Development

~* Online Learning:
From the video I've watched I learned that Climate change is the most significant challenge to achieving sustainable development, and it threatens to drag millions of people into grinding poverty. 
At the same time, we have never had better know-how and solutions available to avert the crisis and create opportunities for a better life for people all over the world.

Climate change is not just a long-term issue. It is happening today, and it entails uncertainties for policy makers trying to shape the future.
~* Online Activities:
I watched a video about Global Warming, A Way Forward, 
Facing Climate Change a documentary by the 
NationalGeographic.com
~* Online Collaboration:
I participated in this online academy, Eliademy, to broaden my knowledge about climate change, and how I can help prevent  the worsening of it. With this knowledge, I will use it to spread to others the effects of climate change and the possibilities it may cause in the future if it will not be lessen.