MODULE 3: PLANETARY HEALTH: BIODIVERSITY & CLIMATE CHANGE
GSTS Module 3 | FIRST TERM : Midterm | ‘22-’23
➔ This variety of life can be observed at
LEARNING OUTCOMES three different levels: genes, species
and ecosystem diversity. Genetic
diversity is the differences in the
★ Biodiversity - a key factor in genetic composition of individuals
maintaining ecological integrity. belonging to the same species.
★ Climate Change - most popular of the Species diversity is the variety and
pressing global environmental changes. abundance of different types of
★ Planetary health- has emerged as a individuals of a species in a given area.
transdisciplinary discipline to raise Ecosystem diversity is the different
awareness, discuss and find solutions types of ecosystems, including both
regarding health. terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems,
➔ (e.g., biodiversity loss/shifts, within a geographical location.
changing biogeochemical
flows,
changing food systems,
changing land use and land WHY IS BIODIVERSITY IMPORTANT?
cover, climate change,
disasters, global pollution,
urbanization, and water The value of biodiversity can be grouped into two
scarcity). main categories:
➔ It aims to educate, restore, utilitarian/instrumental/extrinsic value and
and care for both inherent value. The utilitarian value of
humans and the planet. biodiversity is determined by its practical use or
➔ Addresses essential questions application. Humans derive many direct and
of how humanity inhabits indirect benefits from the living world as the
Earth, and how humans affect source of food, medicine, energy, fiber, rubber
and are affected by natural and timber. The biological resources contain
systems. potentially useful resources as well. It also
serves as a source of information and offers
cultural, aesthetics and recreational benefits to
BIODIVERSITY us. Moreover, the diversity of organisms provides
many ecological services free of charge that are
responsible for maintaining ecosystem health.
Biodiversity is defined as “the variability among
living organisms from all sources including, inter
alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic
ecosystems and the ecological complexes of
which they are part; this includes diversity within
species, between species and of ecosystems.
--Convention on Biological Diversity
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MODULE 3: PLANETARY HEALTH: BIODIVERSITY & CLIMATE CHANGE
GSTS Module 3 | FIRST TERM : Midterm | ‘22-’23
A. UTILITARIAN VALUE ➔ Currently, 25% of the drugs in the
Pharmacy are derived from a mere
120 species of plants while 57% of
the 150 most-prescribed drugs have
1. Source of Food their origins in biodiversity. But,
throughout the world, traditional
medicines make use of thousands of
plant species.
➔ Biodiversity is very useful to modern ➔ Plants can also be used for the
agriculture in three ways: (i) as a manufacture of innumerable
source of new crops, (ii) as a source synthetic products, called
material for breeding improved botanochemicals.
varieties, and (iii) as a source of new ➔ In the Philippines, some known
biodegradable pesticides. medicinal plants include Peppermint
➔ Diversity is critical for developing for relieving body aches; Sambong
new strains and breeds that fit a as diuretic; Lagundi for cough and
particular environment or are asthma; and Malunggay as
resistant to pests or disease and as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and
a source of new crops. for increasing breast milk production.
➔ In addition to farming and fishing
herding became an important means
of meeting the population’s food
demands leading to the development 3. Energy
of agrobiodiversity.
➔ Humans rely on different sources of
2. Medicine energy provided by the ecosystem
throughout history. For example,
heat energy from fire, coal (1000
BC), hydropower or water energy
➔ Biodiversity is a rich source of (400 BC), windmills or wind energy
substances with therapeutic several (1300), natural gas (1820), kerosene
important pharmaceuticals have (1850), solar powered generator
originated as plant-based (1860), geothermal energy (1892)
substances. and nuclear energy (1942).
➔ Examples of plant-derived ➔ However, the demand for energy
substances developed into valuable created a dramatic impact on
drugs are: Quinine (Chinchona biodiversity in terms of wildlife
ledgeriana) used for the treatment of mortality, habitat destruction, noise
malaria; Atropine (Atopa belladonna) and light pollution, invasive cycle and
used as a relaxant and sedative; changes carbon stock and
Codiene (Papavum somniferum) water resources.
used as painkiller; Menthol (Menta
sp.) for nasal decongestion; Digoxin
(Digitalis purpurea) used in
management of congestive heart
failure; and Taxol, an anticancer drug
obtained from the bark of the yew
tree (Taxus brevifolia, T. baccata).
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MODULE 3: PLANETARY HEALTH: BIODIVERSITY & CLIMATE CHANGE
GSTS Module 3 | FIRST TERM : Midterm | ‘22-’23
vapor release, wind patterns and
4. Aesthetic and Cultural Benefits moisture loss. Forests help maintain
a humid environment, for example,
half of rainfall in Amazon basin is
produced locally from forest
atmosphere cycle. Not only that
➔ Biodiversity has also great aesthetic
forest vegetation helps in
value. Natural and wild landscapes
maintaining the water quality and
are aesthetically pleasing.
quantity of the hydrologic cycle, it
➔ Examples of aesthetic rewards
also controls soil erosion. Roots
include ecotourism, bird watching,
increase water absorption and
wildlife, pet keeping and gardening.
prevent soil erosion during heavy
Ecotourism is increasingly becoming
rains.
a lucrative industry. Furthermore, we
➔ Another example is the role of
recognize plants and animals as
photosynthetic biodiversity
symbols of national pride and
(phytoplankton) which creates an
cultural heritage. The survival of
oxygenated atmosphere and has the
natural areas and species are
potential to moderate the rising
important to different cultures around
amounts of atmospheric carbon
the world. Thousands of cultural
dioxide linked to global climate
groups in the world, each have
change.
distinct traditions and knowledge
➔ In addition, many flowering plants
relating to the natural world.
depend on animals for pollination to
produce food. When specialized
pollinators’ population decline this
will lead to a reduction of number
5. Ecosystem Services and quality of fruits produced as well
as plant genetic impoverishment.
➔ Decomposers such as fungi and
bacteria play a critical role in nutrient
➔ Biodiversity is essential for the cycling and renewal of soil. By
maintenance and sustainable breaking down dead plants and
utilization of goods and services from animals, they enrich the soil and
ecological systems as well as from provide nutrients that most plants
the individual species. These use.
services include maintenance of ➔ Wetland and mangrove ecosystems
gaseous composition of the filter excess nutrients and trap
atmosphere, climate control by sediments that would otherwise
forests and oceanic systems, natural impact neighboring coastal and
pest control, pollination of plants by aquatic areas. They help in
insects and birds, formation and minimizing the damages by high
protection of soil, conservation and waves and floods.
purification of water and nutrient
cycling, etc. These ecosystem
services have been valued in the
range of 16 to 54 trillion US dollars
per year.
➔ One specific example is how forests
and other vegetation modify climate
by affecting sun reflectance, water
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MODULE 3: PLANETARY HEALTH: BIODIVERSITY & CLIMATE CHANGE
GSTS Module 3 | FIRST TERM : Midterm | ‘22-’23
B. INTRINSIC VALUE What causes climate change?
★ Intrinsic value, on the other hand, is the A. NATURAL CAUSES
inherent right of species to exist. All
species have intrinsic value and that 1. Volcanic Eruptions
humans are no more important than
other species. We have a moral duty to
pass on our biological resources in ➔ Volcanic eruptions are one of the
good order to our future children. natural causes of climate change.
★ Biodiversity has an intrinsic value When volcanoes erupt, it emits
because it is part of the natural world. It different natural aerosols like carbon
cannot be denied that the conservation dioxide, sulfur dioxides, salt crystals,
of species with its genetic resources volcanic ashes or dust, and even
and ecosystem are important for the microorganisms like bacteria and
maintenance of natural ecological viruses. The volcanic eruption can
processes. cause a cooling effect to the
★ Life forms should be conserved simply lithosphere because its emitted
because they exist. This explains the aerosol can block a certain
altruistic or non-humanistic value to percentage of solar radiation. This
support the intrinsic value of cooling effect can last for one to two
biodiversity. Every species is a product years.
of a long history of continuing evolution ➔ The volcanic ashes which have
by means of ecological processes, and sulfur dioxide combine with water
so it has the right to a continued vapor. It then forms sulfuric acid and
existence. It is ethical to protect the sulfurous aerosols. The sulfurous
biological integrity of every species. aerosols then are transported by
Protecting its inherent value is morally easterly or westerly winds.
good because nowadays, human Volcanoes located near the equator
activities are contributing to the are more likely to cause global
unprecedented rate of extinction. cooling because of the wind pattern.
Volcanoes located near to north or
south poles are less likely to
cause cooling because of pole wind
pattern, the sulfurous aerosols
CLIMATE CHANGE are confined in the pole area.
★ The statistically significant changes in
climate for continuous periods of time.
Factors that contribute to climate
change can be natural internal
processes, external forces, and
persistent anthropogenic changes in the
composition of the atmosphere or in
land use. It can also be due to natural
occurrences or contributed by acts of
human beings.
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MODULE 3: PLANETARY HEALTH: BIODIVERSITY & CLIMATE CHANGE
GSTS Module 3 | FIRST TERM : Midterm | ‘22-’23
taking approximately 40,000 years.
Academic Emporia (2017) states
2. Orbital Changes "the more tilt means more severe
seasons-warmer summers and
➔ Earth's orbit can also cause climate colder winters; less tilt means less
change. This was proposed by the severe seasons-cooler summers and
Milankovitch theory. The milder winters.
Milankovitch theory states "that as
the Earth travels through space ★ Precession is the change in
around the Sun, cyclical variations in orientation of Earth's rotational axis.
three elements of Earth-Sun The precession cycle takes about
geometry combine to produce 19,000 to 23,000 years. Precession
variations in the amount of solar is caused by two factors: a wobble of
energy that reaches Earth. Earth's axis and a turning around of
the elliptical orbit of Earth itself
(Academic Emporia, 2017). Obliquity
affects the tilt of Earth's axis,
precession affects the direction of
Earth's axis. The change in the axis
The three elements that have cyclic location changes the dates of
variations: perihelion (closest distance from
Sun) and aphelion (farthest distance
★ Eccentricity is a term used to from Sun), and this increases the
describe the shape of Earth's orbit seasonal contrast in one hemisphere
around the Sun. The impact of the while decreasing it in the other
variation is a change in the amount hemisphere (Academic Emporia,
of solar energy from perihelion 2017). Currently, Earth is closest to
(around January 3) to aphelion the Sun in the Northern Hemisphere
(around July 4). The time frame for winter, which makes the winters
the cycle is approximately 98,000 there less severe (Academic
years (Academic Emporia, 2017). Emporia, 2017). Another
Currently Earth's eccentricity is 0.016 consequence of precession is a shift
and there is about a 6.4% increase in the celestial poles. Five thousand
in isolation from July to January years ago, the North Star was
(Academic Emporia, 2017). Thuban in the constellation Draco.
Academic Emporia (2017) states, Currently, the North Star is Polaris in
"The eccentricity influences seasonal the constellation UrsaMinor.
differences: when Earth is closest to
the Sun, it gets more solar radiation.
If the perihelion occurs during the
winter, the winter is less severe. If a
hemisphere has its summer while
closest to the Sun, summers are
relatively warm.
★ Obliquity is the variation of the tilt of
Earth's axis away from the orbital
plane. As this tilt changes, the
seasons become more exaggerated.
The obliquity changes on a cycle
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MODULE 3: PLANETARY HEALTH: BIODIVERSITY & CLIMATE CHANGE
GSTS Module 3 | FIRST TERM : Midterm | ‘22-’23
★ The greenhouse gasses mentioned are
3. The Carbon Dioxide Theory natural gasses. However, the high level
of these gasses in the atmosphere
★ Carbon dioxide is added when power contributes to the greenhouse effect.
and heat are produced by burning The increasing amount of these gasses
coal, oil, and other fossil fuels. is due to human activities. High levels
Carbon dioxide is transparent to of carbon dioxide come from fossil fuel
sunshine but not invisible to infrared use in transportation; and the building,
(heat) radiation leaving the ground. heating, cooling, and manufacture of
Carbon dioxide absorbs part of the cement and other goods. Deforestation
infrared radiation in the air and releases carbon dioxide and reduces its
returns it to the ground, keeping the uptake by plants. High methane
air near the surface warmer than it emission is related to agriculture,
would be if the carbon dioxide did natural gas distribution, and landfills.
not act like a blanket. Doubling the High nitrous oxide is also emitted by
carbon dioxide raises the human activities such as fertilizer use
temperature to 2°C to 3°C. and fossil fuel burning. Halocarbon gas
concentrations have increased primarily
due to human activities. Principal
halocarbons include the
chlorofluorocarbons (e.g., CFC-11 and
B. HUMAN ACTIVITIES
CFC-12) which were used extensively
as refrigeration agents and in other
★ Human activities contribute to climate industrial processes before their
change. The largest known contribution presence in the atmosphere was found
comes from the burning of fossil fuels, to cause stratospheric ozone depletion.
which releases carbon dioxide gas to The abundance of chlorofluorocarbon
the atmosphere. Greenhouse gasses gasses is decreasing because of
and aerosols affect climate by altering international regulations designed to
incoming solar radiation and outgoing protect the ozone layer (The
infrared (thermal) radiation that are part Encyclopedia of Earth, 2016).
of Earth's energy balance. Changing ★ Ozone is another greenhouse gas that
the atmospheric abundance or is continually produced and destroyed
properties of these gasses and particles in the atmosphere by chemical
can lead to a warming or cooling of the reactions. In the troposphere, human
climate system. Since the start of the activities have increased ozone through
industrial era (about 1750), the overall the release of gasses such as carbon
effect of human activities on climate has monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen
been a warming influence. The human oxide, which chemically react to
impact on climate during this era greatly produce ozone.
exceeds that due to known changes in ★ Halocarbons released by human
natural processes, such as solar activities destroy ozone in the
changes and volcanic eruptions. stratosphere and have caused the
Human activities result in emissions of ozone hole over Antarctica. While water
four principal greenhouse gasses: vapor is the most abundant and
carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH), important greenhouse gas in the
nitrous oxide (N,0) and the halocarbons atmosphere, human activities have only
(a group of gasses containing fluorine, a small direct influence on the amount
chlorine, and bromine). These gasses of atmospheric water vapor. Indirectly,
accumulate in the atmosphere, causing humans have the potential to affect
concentrations to increase with time. water vapor substantially by changing
climate. For example, a warmer
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MODULE 3: PLANETARY HEALTH: BIODIVERSITY & CLIMATE CHANGE
GSTS Module 3 | FIRST TERM : Midterm | ‘22-’23
atmosphere contains more water vapor. declining crop yields due to drought,
Human activities also influence water especially in Africa, are likely to leave
vapor through CH4 emissions, because hundreds of millions without the ability
CH4 undergoes chemical destruction in to produce or purchase sufficient food.
the stratosphere, producing a small At mid to high latitudes, crop yields may
amount of water vapor, and aerosols, increase for moderate temperature
the small particles present in the rises (2°C to 3°C), but then decline with
atmosphere with widely varying size, greater amounts of warming. Ocean
concentration, and chemical edification, a direct result of rising
composition. Some aerosols are carbon dioxide levels, will have major
emitted directly into the atmosphere effects on marine ecosystems, with
while others are formed from emitted possible adverse consequences on fish
compounds. Aerosols contain both stocks (Stern, 2007).
naturally occurring compounds and ➔ Climate change will increase worldwide
those emitted as a result of human deaths from malnutrition and heat
activities. Fossil fuel and biomass stress. Vector-borne diseases such as
burning have increased aerosols malaria and dengue fever could
containing sulphur compounds, organic become more widespread if effective
compounds, and black carbon (soot). control measures are not in place.
Human activities such as surface Rising sea levels may result in more
mining and industrial processes have flooded areas each year with a warming
increased dust in the atmosphere of 3°C or 4°C. There will be serious
(IPCC, 2007). On September 16, 1986, risks and increasing pressures for
an international treaty was adapted. It is coastal protection (Stern, 2007).
called the Montreal Protocol. The treaty ➔ Ecosystems will be particularly
aimed to regulate the production and vulnerable to climate change, with one
use of chemicals that contribute to study estimating that around 15-40% of
ozone layer depletion (Britannica, species face extinction with 2°C of
2017). warming. The consequences of climate
change will become disproportionately
more damaging with increased
warming. Higher temperatures will
B. IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE increase the chance of triggering abrupt
and large-scale changes that lead to
regional disruption, migration, and
➔ Climate change could cause severe conflict. Warming may induce sudden
effects to all life forms around our shifts in regional weather patterns like
planet. It directly affects the basic the monsoons or the El Niño. Such
elements of people's lives like water, changes would have severe
food, health, use of land, and the consequences for water availability and
environment. flooding in tropical regions and threaten
➔ With the average global temperature the livelihood of billions. Melting or
which is predicted to rise by 2 to 3°C collapse of ice sheets would raise sea
within the next fifty years, glaciers will levels and eventually threaten at least 4
continue to melt faster. Melting glaciers million km2 of land, which today is
will increase flood risks during the wet home to 5% of the world's population
season and strongly reduce dry-season (Stern, 2007).
water supplies to one-sixth of the
world's population, predominantly in the
Indian subcontinent, parts of China, and
the Andes in South America.
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MODULE 3: PLANETARY HEALTH: BIODIVERSITY & CLIMATE CHANGE
GSTS Module 3 | FIRST TERM : Midterm | ‘22-’23
SUMMARY
B. CLIMATE CHANGE
➔ Climate change refers to significant
changes in global temperature,
A. BIODIVERSITY
precipitation, wind patterns and other
measures of climate that occur over
➔ Biodiversity is the variety and several decades or longer.
variability of life on earth. ➔ Changes in the Earth’s climate can
➔ The three levels of biodiversity are be due to natural processes that are
genetic, species and ecosystem already occurring, or human
diversity. activities also known as
➔ The most fundamental needs and anthropogenic climate change.
requirements of human society ➔ Natural climate change is due to
provided by biodiversity include food, Earth’s orbital changes, solar
medicine, timber, fiber and fuel. variations, ocean currents and
➔ Non-material benefits of biodiversity volcanic activity.
include spiritual, cultural, recreational ➔ Anthropogenic climate change is
and aesthetic values, information brought mainly by burning of fossil
and knowledge systems. fuels resulting in an increase in
➔ Biodiversity supports the buffering greenhouse gasses emissions.
capacity and stability of life on this ➔ The probable effects of climate
planet through ecosystem services. change include changes in sea level
Some of the ecological services and precipitation patterns, effects on
provided by biodiversity are biodiversity, human health and
regulation of climate, purification of agriculture.
air and water, recycling of nutrients,
flood control, formation and
protection of soil, biological pest
control, pollination and seed
dispersal.
➔ The utilitarian value of biodiversity
relies upon the direct economic
benefits and ecosystem services we
derived from it.
➔ Intrinsic/inherent value supports that
every species has the
right to exist.
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