UNIVERSITY OF NORTHEASTERN PHILIPPINES
School of Graduate Studies and Research
Iriga City
______________________________________________________________________________
Name: MAY I. BRITO
Subject: MSCI 101 – CLIMATE CHANGE
Date: 08/14/26
Score:
FINAL EXAMINATION
I.
Direction: Define the following terms:
1. Climate Change – Long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, and other
climate patterns, mainly caused by human activities that increase the amount of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
2. Climate-Smart Agriculture – A farming method that boosts productivity in a
sustainable way, helps farming systems handle climate change effects, and cuts
down or eliminates greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Recycling – A process where used materials are collected, processed, and
turned into new products to save natural resources and cut down on waste and
pollution.
4. Greenhouse Effect – A natural process where certain gases in the atmosphere
trap heat from the sun, warming the Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere.
5. Fossil Fuel – A type of energy source that is not renewable, such as coal, oil, or
natural gas, formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals over millions
of years.
6. Global Concerns – Major problems that affect the environment, society,
economy, and politics across countries and need international teamwork to
address.
7. Ecosystem – A system that includes all living things and non-living elements in
an area, interacting through the movement of energy and nutrients.
8. Extinct Species – A type of animal or plant that no longer exists anywhere on
Earth because all its members have died.
9. Forest Landscapes – Large, connected areas of forests that include various life
forms, natural features, and human activities that impact how forests are
maintained.
10. Mitigation Method – A plan or action that lowers the causes or effects of
environmental issues, especially by reducing greenhouse gas emissions or
increasing the ability to store carbon.
11. Global Warming – A trend of rising average temperatures on Earth over a long
period, mainly due to higher levels of greenhouse gases from human activities.
12. Climate Change Adaptation – The process of modifying human and natural
systems to deal with current or expected climate conditions, in order to lessen risks
and vulnerabilities.
13. Ecology – The study of how living organisms interact with each other and with
their environment.
14. Global Challenge – A difficult problem that affects many countries and
requires international efforts to solve, due to its wide-ranging causes and effects.
15. Environment – All the living and non-living elements that surround and affect
organisms, including natural, social, and physical aspects.
16. Global Threats – Major dangers that can harm human societies, ecosystems,
and global stability, such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, pollution, and the
use of natural resources too quickly.
II.
Answer the following questions:
1. Suggest effective strategies to reduce carbon emissions while transitioning to
renewable energy sources.
As a Master of Arts in Education student and a biologist, I believe reducing
carbon emissions needs both scientific approaches and changes in how people
behave. The Philippines can decrease its reliance on fossil fuels by increasing the
use of solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal energy. Other useful strategies
include improving energy efficiency, encouraging the use of public
transportation and electric vehicles, reducing waste, following sustainable
farming practices, and protecting forests, mangroves, and other natural areas
that absorb carbon dioxide.
Education plays a key role in this change. Schools and communities can
teach energy conservation, responsible use of resources, recycling, and other
sustainable habits. It is important for government policies, private sector
involvement, scientific research, and environmental education to combine efforts
to make the shift to clean energy practical, fair, and long-lasting.
2. What are the acceptable ways to mitigate the impacts of climate change on
vulnerable communities and ecosystems?
Climate change effects can be lessened by using eco-friendly methods,
technology, and involving local people. Preserving and restoring forests,
mangroves, wetlands, coral reefs, and other natural areas can help cut carbon
emissions and protect communities from floods, landslides, storms, and other
dangers. Also important are sustainable farming, proper water use, renewable
energy, and reducing disaster risks.
For communities that are most affected, climate actions need to be fair
and include everyone. People like farmers, fisherfolk, Indigenous groups, and
those with low income should be involved in decisions since they often face the
biggest challenges from climate change. From a biology standpoint, keeping
biodiversity and healthy ecosystems is vital because human life and health
depend on these natural systems.
3. As a 21st Century Teacher, what can you do to address climate change, and
how can you encourage our learners and the community to take appropriate
actions?
As a 21st Century Science Teacher, I can help learners understand climate
change by improving their scientific knowledge, critical thinking, environmental
awareness, and sense of duty. I can include climate change topics in Science
classes through questioning methods, project work, experiments, environmental
studies, and analyzing local climate and environmental data. Learners can
perform waste audits, track biodiversity, examine energy use, and create solutions
for environmental issues at school and in the community.
I can also inspire students to become environmental leaders and
responsible members of society. Activities like tree planting, beach cleanups,
recycling programs, school gardens, saving energy, and protecting biodiversity
can help turn knowledge into action. As a teacher, I should also demonstrate
sustainable practices because students learn not only from what is taught but also
from what is modeled.
4. How can the government, business sectors, and organizations take action and
work together to develop and implement climate change policies and solutions?
The government should create policies based on science, enforce
environmental regulations, support renewable energy, protect natural resources,
and give money for climate adaptation and disaster readiness. The business world
can help by lowering greenhouse gas emissions, using clean technologies, saving
resources, and offering sustainable products and services.
Schools, universities, non-profit groups, and other organizations can offer
research, education, innovation, and local initiatives. Effective teamwork requires
common goals, openness, enough funding, and ongoing monitoring. Since
climate change is a big challenge, a whole-of-society approach is necessary.
Government leadership, science, business innovation, and community
involvement together can create better and longer-lasting climate solutions.
5. What will happen if we fail to address climate change? What are the potential
consequences, and how do you think we can prepare to adapt to its impacts?
If we do not properly deal with climate change, we can face more extreme
heat, stronger climate-related dangers, floods, droughts, rising sea levels, loss of
biodiversity, food shortages, water scarcity, and damage to buildings and
livelihoods. As an island nation, the Philippines is especially vulnerable to impacts
on coastal areas, farming, fishing, forests, and marine life.
We can prepare through climate-resistant infrastructure, warning systems,
disaster planning, sustainable agriculture, water saving, restoring ecosystems, and
climate education. Communities should find out what they are at risk of and build
adaptation plans before a disaster happens.
From a biological point of view, keeping ecosystems healthy and varied is
also a type of adaptation. This is because having a wide range of species helps
ecosystems better handle changes in their environment.
6. How can you encourage our learners to create a beautiful world?
I can help learners create a beautiful world by showing them that
protecting the environment starts with knowledge, values, and daily actions. I can
teach them to value biodiversity and understand how human activities affect the
environment. Instead of just talking about environmental problems, I can give
learners chances to take part in real activities like planting trees, gardening,
recycling, cleaning up, protecting wildlife, and working on conservation projects.
As an educator, I should aim to develop not only knowledgeable learners
but also responsible environmental caretakers. I want my learners to realize that
creating a beautiful world is more than just having a clean and nice environment.
It is about building a world where people, other living things, and ecosystems can
live together in a sustainable and balanced way.
7. What are the biggest challenges to implementing climate change mitigation
and adaptation strategies in the Philippines?
The Philippines faces many challenges, such as limited financial resources,
poverty and inequality, dependence on fossil fuels, fast urbanization, poor
infrastructure, weak enforcement of environmental policies, limited technical
skills, and lack of coordination between institutions. The country's location also
makes it highly vulnerable to typhoons, floods, droughts, landslides, and rising sea
levels.
Another challenge is finding a balance between economic growth and
environmental protection. Many Filipinos depend on agriculture, fishing, forestry,
and other jobs that are sensitive to climate changes. So, climate strategies must
be based on good science and also take into account the needs of local
communities. Strong leadership, climate education, research, community
involvement, and sustainable funding are all important in tackling these
challenges.
8. How might climate change impact the country's economic growth and
development?
Climate change could harm the Philippines' economic growth by lowering the
productivity of agriculture and fisheries, damaging infrastructure, disrupting
businesses, increasing costs from disasters, and affecting people's health and
work performance. Frequent climate-related disasters can also worsen poverty
and inequality since poorer communities often have less to help them recover.
However, dealing with climate change can also lead to opportunities for
sustainable economic growth. Putting money into renewable energy, green
technology, climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable farming, restoring
ecosystems, and creating green jobs can support economic development while
reducing environmental risks. Thus, climate change should be viewed not only as
an environmental issue but also as a major economic, social, and development
concern.
9. What role can individuals, organizations, and governments play in addressing
climate change?
Individuals can lower their environmental impact by saving energy and
water, reducing waste, consuming responsibly, using eco-friendly transportation
when possible, and joining environmental activities. Organizations can adopt
sustainable practices, cut down emissions, support environmental research and
education, and create new climate solutions.
Governments have a big role to play in creating and enforcing
environmental laws, controlling emissions, investing in renewable energy and
climate-resistant infrastructure, protecting natural areas, and supporting
vulnerable communities.
In the end, climate change needs joint efforts. Individuals help by acting
responsibly, organizations by being innovative and working together, and
governments by making policies, rules, and providing resources. As a teacher and
biologist, I believe that combining scientific knowledge, environmental
education, community engagement, and strong governance is key to building a
resilient and sustainable future.
GOODLUCK!