Practical Strategies for Mitigating Climate Change

The heat 🔥 in the Philippines is crazy these days! We can all cry about it, but that won't cool us down. 🥵 Here's the real question:

It's all because of something called global warming. 🔥 🌏 🔥 Think of it like the Earth getting sick because we're cutting down too many trees, ⛰︎↟ factories are polluting the air, 🏭 and everyone's eating tons of meat. 🥩 The more we ignore this problem, the hotter things get – double ouch! ✘_ ✘

But first -

Human activities are causing a major disruption to Earth's climate. We're releasing excessive amounts of heat-trapping gases, like carbon dioxide (CO2), into the atmosphere. These gases act like a thickening blanket, trapping more heat and causing the planet to warm – that's global warming.

Raising livestock, especially cows, releases a lot of methane, a potent greenhouse gas with over 80 times the heat-trapping power of CO2 in the short term. *read more*

Livestock significantly contribute to global warming by emitting greenhouse gases throughout their entire production cycle, from digestion to manure management and deforestation for grazing land. *read more*

Trees absorb CO2 from the air. When we cut them down, that stored carbon gets released back into the atmosphere, worsening the problem. Land use changes, mainly deforestation, account for 12-20% of global emissions by releasing stored carbon and turning forests from absorbers into sources. *read more*

Vehicles powered by fossil fuels are a major culprit in global warming. Burning gasoline and diesel releases heat-trapping CO2, while the entire process of extracting these fuels damages ecosystems, pollutes water sources, and exposes people to harmful air. Transitioning to electric vehicles and cleaner energy sources is crucial to curb these negative impacts. *read more*

The impact of meat consumption, deforestation, and vehicles powered by fossil fuels is alarming! Let's break down their effects and see how they hit the Philippines particularly hard, using data:

The observed temperature in the Philippines has increased by 0.68°C over the past 65 years (1951-2015); warming at an average rate of 0.1°C per decade. *read more*

As an island nation, the Philippines is highly vulnerable to these extreme weather events. They disrupt agriculture, damage infrastructure, and displace communities.

We rely heavily on agriculture. Extreme weather events and changing weather patterns could lead to food shortages and price hikes.

The heatwave might be intense, but we don't need superpowers to fight back! Small changes in our daily lives can make a big difference.

As I'm currently in the city right now, typing this article I just read this term that explains why city is so damn hot compare with rural areas.

As cities grow, more concrete and asphalt surfaces replace natural landscapes. These materials absorb and retain heat more efficiently than soil and vegetation. This creates "urban heat islands" where temperatures are significantly higher than surrounding rural areas. *read more*

Feeling the heat in the Philippines? We all can make a difference! Let's explore the reasons behind the rising temperatures and take small, but impactful actions in our daily lives. Together, we can create a cooler future for ourselves and ensure our children don't have to face this scorching heat. Remember, small changes add up!