"There's No Plan-et B! It's Time To Care!"

 What exactly is "Climate Change"?

    Climate change describes a change in the average conditions, such as temperature and rainfall, in a region over a long period of time. Climate change refers to the average long-term changes over the entire Earth. These include warming temperatures and changes on precipitation, as well as the effects of the Earth's warming. 

    There are a lot of factors that contribute to the Earth's climate. However, scientists have agreed that Earth has been getting warmer in the past 50 to 100 years due to human activities. Certain gases in earth's atmosphere block heat from escaping, these gases keep Earth warm like how the glass in a greenhouse keeps plants warm. Thus, we call the "Greenhouse Effect". 

    We humans as well as every other living creatures face new challenges for survival because of climate change. Natural occurrences such as drought, storms, heat waves, rising sea levels, melting of glaciers and warming oceans have been more frequent and intense for the past recent years. These phenomenon can directly harm animals, destroy places they live, and wreak havoc on people's livelihoods and communities. Climate change has worsened, and keeps on worsening. Dangerous weather events are becoming more frequent and even more severe than before. People across the world are facing the consequences, from heat waves and wildfires to coastal storms and flooding.

And in accordance to this, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Climate Change Service (DENR-CCS) pushed with its fully-loaded activities - most of it was held virtually - from November 19 to 27, 2020 in celebration of the National Climate Change Consciousness Week (NCCCW), while the COVID-19 is still present. "Adapting for a Sustainable Future" is the theme of this year's Global Warming and Climate Consciousness Week. It is so to advance the general health and welfare of our country's citizens, promote sustainable development of its economy, and protect its natural resources for the benefit of all generations.

    Now, why should be of importance that this climate change issue should be spread? Well, awareness of this matter helps people understand and address the impact of global warming, increase "climate literacy" among young people, encourages changes in their attitudes and behavior, and help them adapt to climate change related trends. Education and awareness-raising enable informed decision-making, play an essential role in increasing adaptation and mitigation capacities of communities, and empower people to adopt sustainable lifestyles. 

    The government and many public and private sectors have started multiple programs to spread awareness of climate change. What could be solutions to slow the increase of climate change? To avoid the worst effects of climate change, we need to reduce global carbon emissions and to also protect forests and plantations. Forests are home to many of the world's most endangered wildlife. They also protect the planet by absorbing carbon dioxide, a major source of pollution that causes climate change. 

Citation and References:

• What is Climate Change? (2019) https://climatekids.nasa.gov/climate-change-meaning/
• Climate Change Education and Awareness. UNESCO. https://en.unesco.org/themes/addressing-climate-change/climate-change-education-and-awareness#:~:text=It%20helps%20people%20understand%20and,to%20climate%20change%20related%20trends.
• Effects of Climate Change. World Wildlife Fund. https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/effects-of-climate-change#:~:text=More%20frequent%20and%20intense%20drought,on%20people's%20livelihoods%20and%20communities.&text=As%20climate%20change%20worsens%2C%20dangerous,becoming%20more%20frequent%20or%20severe.
• DENR Gears Up For Climate Consciousness Week Amidst Pandemic. (2020). https://www.denr.gov.ph/index.php/news-events/press-releases/1980-denr-gears-up-for-climate-consciousness-week-amidst-pandemic#:~:text=In%20celebration%20of%20the%20upcoming,COVID%2D19%20is%20still%20present
• https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fnation%2F2019%2F02%2F26%2Fglobal-warming-99-9999-percent-chance-humans-cause%2F2994043002%2F&psig=AOvVaw0i8AmxSsNYT_zi6qnHeqHz&ust=1607352514942000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCOC_-fXMue0CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
• https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scientificamerican.com%2Farticle%2F10-solutions-for-climate-change%2F&psig=AOvVaw2En5nxsUWN5qYCFCP9Zdr3&ust=1607352482932000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCNiVs-PMue0CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
• https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.treehugger.com%2Fgreenhouse-effect-definition-effects-on-the-economy-4161107&psig=AOvVaw00OvCx0_j5QYvmwqeeXyEf&ust=1607352413267000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCIi7mcrMue0CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAI
• https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fclimate.nasa.gov%2Fsystem%2Fcontent_pages%2Fmain_images%2F1320_effects-image.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fclimate.nasa.gov%2Feffects%2F&tbnid=PP7K0AOOKSjdiM&vet=12ahUKEwiZytOyzLntAhUNfpQKHduOA8YQMygAegQIARB-..i&docid=kz83r1N8_EUKqM&w=711&h=350&q=effects%20of%20climate%20change&ved=2ahUKEwiZytOyzLntAhUNfpQKHduOA8YQMygAegQIARB-
• https://sites.google.com/a/auhsdschools.org/mhs-climate-change-awareness-week/website-builder-about?overridemobile=true