Typhoon Yolanda Case Study

Although it wasn’t until fairly recently that humans have been severely impacted by climate change, the issue was been present for over a hundred years. The first scientist to conclude that burning fossil fuels in the quantity at which we were doing so would eventually result in elevated mean annual global temperature was Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius in 1896 (Enzler, 2014). In the early 1900s, other scientists believed that the Earth was experiencing global cooling trends until Stephen Schneider and research in the 1980’s produced evidence that the annual mean global temperature was rising (Enzler, 2014). The estimated rate at which temperatures were rising was so steep that Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) began to advocate for …show more content…
It is estimated that a mean annual temperature increase of 2 degrees Celsius would have affects including increased: droughts and longer periods of heavy rain, more extreme temperatures, increased death rates and reduced crop yield, limited water availability, and flooding of coastlines because of sea level rise (The World Bank, 2013). The Philippines are no exception to this. The recent typhoon Yolanda proved to the strongest storm in Pilipino history. The most pressing priority for their people is to augment resiliency to disasters to reduce the threat the people of the islands face. This can be done within the countries boundary to a degree by means such as including climate change assessments in developmental planning and land use, as well as turning to renewable energy sources and lessening the countries carbon output (Garachon et al., 2014). However, it is cruel irony that some areas that experience the most tragic effects of climate change are the ones that had the least to do in causing it. Preventative measures against persisting climate change have taken precedence within the European Union (EU). Leaders of the EU aim to make Europe into a more energy efficient economy with a smaller carbon footprint, and support other countries in doing the same, including the Philippines. Currently, the EU contributes to the securing of natural resources and raising awareness about natural disasters …show more content…
The Environmental Protection Agency began enacting regulations of greenhouse gas emissions from factories in 2011, and intends to regulate practically all sources of greenhouse gases in an effort to make emissions more efficient. Their recent activities are supported by the federal courts (New York Times, 2013). Smaller organizations, such as the newly formed National Disaster Association are strictly dedicated to education about climate change and how it is affected places and people, as well as how you can be prepared and participate in making changes in current legislation regarding carbon emission, energy sources, and more (NDA,