According to the United Nations, climate change refers to the long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, which can be caused by both natural and anthropogenic factors. One of the natural causes are the changes in the sun's energy, which contributes to the warming of the atmosphere. What's more, volcanic eruptions also release carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas that can contribute to global warming. On the other hand, the anthropogenic or human causes include the burning of fossil fuels, which increases the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In addition, the cutting of trees, which leads to deforestation, also impacts the climate because trees are the ones that absorb carbon dioxide.
Climate change has detrimental effects on our planet Earth. The first one is the warming and rising of sea levels, which endangers the lives of the people living in low areas. The second is increased drought, which affects many farmers. Next are hotter temperatures, which affect many individuals. Another one is more severe storms, which affect the countries near the equator, especially the Philippines.
From what we, Filipinos, have experienced these past few months, we have been struck by so many typhoons. Researchers and scientists believe and prove that one of the main reasons for this sudden occurrence is climate change. Climate change disrupts weather patterns that affect typhoon formation, making storms more erratic and harder to predict. Notably, Typhoon Pepito is already the fourth super typhoon to hit the Philippines this month. This typhoon affected the lives of many Filipinos, especially Luzon.
Despite the challenges Filipinos are facing right now, such as the super typhoons, we still won't lose our resilience. With the help of the mountains of Northern and Central Luzon, namely the Sierra Madre, the Cordillera Central, and the Caraballo Mountains, we are able to lessen the impact of typhoons. The Philippines is known to be a very vulnerable country, considering that it lies directly on the path of the typhoon belt in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. But after all of these factors, Filipinos still wear a very cheerful-looking expression, reminding us that we can overcome everything if we just stay positive. Resiliency is one of the special characteristics of Filipinos, which helps us conquer the challenges and bounce back from adversity.
On the contrary, there are ways that we can help lessen the effects of climate change on us. One way is by reducing carbon emissions and shifting to renewable energy, which can help slow ocean warming and help stabilize weather patterns. Another is by conserving and restoring forests to lessen the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In conclusion, we must all unite and save our mother Earth by taking actions. We must remember that what we give to the world, it gives back to us.
References:
United Nations. (n.d.). What is Climate Change? United Nations. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change
Batanes Liberato. (2024, November 15). The Science Behind Super Typhoons: Why Are They Becoming More Frequent and Stronger [Facebook post]. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/share/p/yk7eC4aZVtaGu8Jz/
Anak ng Pangasinan. (2024, November 17). The Mighty Mountains of Luzon [Facebook post]. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/share/p/zZRdicEyBScDb9x3/
