A research report that investigates the effects of Climate change, its causes and what people think of it in the Pacific

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Acknowledgement:
First of all I would like to give my sincere thanks to God for his unlimited love and guidance while doing
this report
 secondly to my UU114 teacher Miss Sa’a Finiasi
 the Librarian at the USP Laucala library
 my friends, colleagues and those who have contributed their knowledge to my topic
Without your help, this report would not be completed in time. I am grateful to have someone like you
who usually have my back. All the best to you and God bless.

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Abstract
The main purpose of this report was to go over the views of students at USP Laucala Suva on climate
change. This report consists of four main terms of references. One of which is identifying three common
causes and effects of climate change in the Pacific. To carry out these objectives, questionnaires are
distributed to ten males and females. Secondary sources are books, magazines journal and online
information. The results are interesting, some student present great knowledge on climate change
especially those from countries threatened by Climate change. This report concludes with the idea that
most students are aware of what climate change is and its effects to Pacific islands.

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1.0 Introduction
The main objective of this report was to investigate how climate change presents problems to the Pacific
Islands, and what are the students’ views on climate change as a whole and what solutions are there to
help reduce its effect. The preferred area of study is the University of the South Pacific at Laucala campus
Suva City.
There was a study on people awareness and adaptation to climate change, co-authored by Mr. Easey S
from the Yale University and the other six. The report was entitled “Public understanding of climate
change and adaptation in South Australia”. It interviews different individuals from different race groups.
Question two of the report asks “What do you do, or what could you do in the future, to cope with the
threats associated with climate change?” Easey, S. 2013.
As a hypothesis, most males would believe that the common causes of climate change are industrial
pollution, Gas emission and Land reclamation. Its effect would be increase in temperature. Females are
likely to see climate change as the result of Deforestation which creates problems such as increase in
water salinity. Both females and males would agree that Rise in sea level, salinity of soil and increase in
temperature are the most serious effects of Climate change and their reliable source of knowledge would
be from School studies and Mass media. Both genders would be familiar with replanting of trees like
mangroves and Earth Hour programmes.
Four important terms of reference are to identify the three most common effect of climate change and its
impacts, secondly was to investigate and rate how well informed students are on this topic, thirdly was to
evaluate how effective various programs run by government and non-government organizations are they
in educating people on this matter and lastly to find solutions that could suggest how tertiary students can
participate and battle against climate change.
To successfully carry out these aims, important steps are followed. These of which are obtaining
information from the internet, magazines, books, newspapers and views of students. Primary sources
include distributing twenty questionnaires.

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2.0 Procedure
In this report, two types of sources were used of these which are primary and secondary sources
2.10 Primary sources:
2.1.1 Questionnaires
Subjects: A total of twenty questionnaires were distributed to students at the USP Laucala, ten goes to
females and ten goes to males.
Materials used: twenty copies of the questionnaire which I printed and one ball pen.
Procedure: This was conducted on a basis that respondents are requested to answer at that time just to
prevent problems such as miss-placing the copy or losing it. In addition to that, respondents are also asked
to answer according to their best knowledge and to avoid playing around.
2.20 Secondary sources:
2.2.1 Internet
Materials: What I used was the computer labs PC and my personal lab top
Procedure: I searched the web for related materials on the topic and then note them down
2.2.2 Journal
Materials: I used applicable journals on the subject from the library and also from online journal
databases.
Procedure: I look for journals in the library and then use the library computers and mine to
access the online journal database.
2.2.3 News papers
Materials: Newspapers hard copy and e-copy using the internet by accessing it from my
personal lab top.
Procedure: I look for Newspapers that contain related information on the issue and check the
Newspapers website too.

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3.0 Results
After doing the research,the results are obtained
3.1 CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
3.1.1 Causes ofclimate change:
Figure 3.1.2. From the twenty samples ten males and ten females, the following results are graphed as
according to their opinion on which causes of climate change are the most common.
GAS
EMISSION
DEFORESTATI
ON
INCREASE
USE OF
TECHNOLOG
Y
INDUSTRIALI
SATION
LAND
RECLAMATIO
N
FOSSIL FUEL
MALE 5 6 2 7 2 8
FEMALE 9 8 7 2 0 4
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Numberofpeople
Causes of climate changeFigure 3.1.2

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3.1.3 Effects of climate change
These two charts illustrate how serious the effects of climate change are. The keys used are very serious,
moderate and not serious at all. Here, the students rate the effects on the first column according to their
own views.
Findings here showed that males agree that melting of ice caps and rise in sea level are very serious
effects caused by climate change.
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
PERCENTAGEOFSEVERITY
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
MALES VIEW ON THE SEVERITY OF THE EFFECTS
OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Not very serious
Moderate
Very serious
Figure 3.1.4

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Due to this chart, females strongly agree that Increase in temperature, thinning of ozone layer and
extremely high tide present serious trouble to the pacific islands.
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
PERCENTAGEOFSEVERITY
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
FEMALES VIEW ON THE SEVERITY OF THE EFFECTS
OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Not very serious
Moderate
Very serious
Figure 3.1.5

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3.2 STUDENTS’ AWARENESS ON CLIMATECHANGE
The table below explains how students heard about climate change and how reliable the sources of
information are to them.
Figure 3.2.1
RELIABILIT
Y RATE
HOW YOU HEARD ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
FRIENDS/FAMILY MASS MEDIA SCHOOL/STUDI
ES
OTHERS
MALE FEMALE MALE FEMAL
E
MAL
E
FEMAL
E
MALE FEMALE
RELIABLE 2 0 3 4 5 4 INTERNE
T
INTERNE
T
SEMI-
RELIABLE
1 0 0 1 0 2 * *
NOT
RELIABLE
0 0 0 0 0 0 * *
TOTAL 3 0 3 5 5 6
Both charts illustrate how the students hear about climate change. The greater the percentage represents
the most informative source for climate change. It is clear that a majority number of both genders first
hear about climate change at school.
OTHERS as appeared on the graph above represents only internet source
0%
33%
56%
11%
How females heard
about Climate change
Friends/Families
Mass media
School studies
Others
Figure 3.2.3
25%
25%
42%
8%
How males heard about
Climate change
Friends/Families
Mass media
School studies
Others
Figure 3.2.2

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Earth hour
Clean up
campaigns
Replanting of
trees/mangrov
es
Environment
week
Awareness
programs
Males 0 4 8 1 7
Females 3 4 6 2 5
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Frequency
NGOs' and non NGOs' programsFigure 3.3.1
3.3 NGOs’ and Government Programs
Non-government and government organization also played roles in alerting people on Climate change.
Below are various programs they organize to educate people.

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4.0 Discussion:
There are so many causes and effects of climate change that one could think out. However among all of
these, still there are very common ones.
From Figure 3.1.2, it is very obvious that most males believed that the three most common causes of
climate change are Fossil fuels, industrialization and gas emissions. On that same chart females agree that
gas emission, deforestation and the increase in use of technology and machine are three common result of
climate alteration.
Regarding views of those who answered our questionnaires, males believed that the melting of ice caps,
rise in sea-level are the most serious effects of climate change this is proved by the column graph figure
3.1.4. It gains a vote of 90%. Looking at figure 3.1.5 females strongly agree that the increase in
temperature, thinning of ozone layer and extremely high tides are the most serious effects of climate
change this is shown by their 100% selection
Droughts, flash floods and increased sea surge are also effects of climate change. It also places a threat to
people’s livelihood, our culture and heritage.
Climate change affects a community’s culture and heritage. As communities move
away from their traditional lands, many aspects of their cultural heritage are in danger
of disappearing along with their land (Usha, S. 2015)
From figure 3.1.4, it was discovered that male respondents are not quite familiar with what flora and
faunas are. They rate their extinction as being moderate when in fact, Flora or plants and fauna, another
term for animals are the basic nutrition for humans.
Figure 3.2.1 tabulates how students first hear about climate change an important area to investigate so that
we would be able to determine which way is more informative and reliable, these results which are then
plotted separately according to gender view. The findings in figure 3.2.2 stated that males first heard
about climate change at school, from family and friends. Females on the other hand first hear about
climate change at school and mass media. Overall, both male and female had access to the internet and
both agree that it is a reliable source since that allows them to know more about Climate change. So their
awareness depends on how much time they would research on the issue on the web.
Figure 3.3.2 expresses the results of what programs carried out by NGOs’ and Non-government
organizations which the students are more exposed to. As illustrated, males and females are more aware
of the replanting of trees and awareness programs. Earth hour was commonly practiced in Tuvalu. On
Funafuti, the Tuvaluans experienced a completely-fledged top down line on the Earth Hour when the
government planned to shut down the power plant for 1 hour. It angers most Tuvaluan people but it
greatly increases exposure to climate change awareness (Lan, M. 2011). This article was published and
posted on the web that many people from different countries came to realize how climate change is a
serious threat to the pacific nations.

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5.0 Conclusion
The four terms of reference are important and essential to the completion of this report due to the sense
that they guide us. In addition to that, they made our results easier to classify as we just changed them to
subheadings. So, the number of these terms of references could also indicate the length of the discussion.
In conclusion, males believe that the common causes of climate change are industrial pollution, Gas
emission and Fossil fuels. Their effects are melting of ice and rise in sea-level. Females strongly agree
that climate change is the result of Deforestation, gas emission and increase use of technology which
creates problems such as increase in temperature, thinning of ozone layer and extremely high tide. So
evidently, both females and males agree that Rise in sea level and increasing temperature are the most
serious effects of Climate change and their reliable source of knowledge are from School studies and
Mass media. Both genders are most familiar with replanting of trees like mangroves and Awareness
programmes.
The hypothesis stated earlier was only true on the cases that most males would believe that the common
causes of climate change are industrial pollution and Gas emission while Females see climate change as
the result of Deforestation. Both females and males settle that Rise in sea level is the most serious effect
of Climate change. Their reliable source of knowledge was School studies and Mass media. Overall, they
are aware of replanting trees and awareness programmes.

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Recommendation
Climate change cannot be stopped but can only be reduced. The solutions received from our respondents
present some contradictions and confuses. Some are repeated and some appeared on both sides as
immediate and future solution. However, after going through them carefully as a whole, reliable answers
are revealed.
Immediate solutions
I. The government should send a climate change officer to rural and urban areas to do awareness
talks.
II. Minimizing the use of machines that contributes to releasing carbon dioxide and other harmful
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCS) wastes.
III. Developed countries should stop using fossil fuels and start using solar power and hydro power to
generate electricity.
Future solutions
I. Industrialized countries should stop deforestation.
II. Replanting more trees would help balance the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
III. The governments should plan for projects in partnership with other countries and seek help from
them.
According to research,a Japanese company has sent engineers to Kiribati to inform President Anote Tong
on its ideas for a floating city to save the Pacific island nation from rising sea levels (Connors, A. 2013).
On the other hand, New Zealand had been accepting 75 Tuvaluans per year (Ralston, H. etal 2004).
(2023 words)

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Bibliography
Australian Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO, 2011. Climate Change in the Pacific: Scientific
assessment and New Research. Vol1: Regional overview
Caney, S. 2010, Climate change, Human rights and moral thresholds, Garder (ed) “Climate change
ethics”, Vol 9. Oxford 2010
Connor, A. 2013, “Japanese firm moves ahead with ‘floating city’ plan for Kiribati”, ABC News,17
September
Crowley, T. 2000, Science, New Series, “Causes of climate change over the past 1000 years” Vol 289,
No. 5477 July pp. 270-277.
Flora, J. Saphir, M. Lappe, M. Renout, C. Malbach, E. Leiserowitz, A. 2013, Evaluation of a national
high school entertainment education program: The alliance for climate education, 21 September
http://www.springerlink.com
Hanson-Easey,S, Bi, P,Hansen, A, Williams, Nitschke, M, Saniotis, A, Zhang, Y and Hodgets, K. 2013,
Public understanding of Climate change adaptation research Facility, Gold Coast
Marie, L. 2011, “Every night is Earth hour on Tuvalu”, Klima, 27 March
http://Klima-tuvalu.no/2011/03/27/every-night-is-earth-hours-on-tuvalu/
Usha,S. 2015, Pacific (journalism review) failed states and the environment, in “Communicating climate
change in the Pacific using a bottom approach”, Vol 20, no. 2. November pg. 79

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UU114: English for academic purposes
Assignment 2: Research Report Questionnaire
Title: A report on climate change in the Pacific.
Gender: __________ Level of Study: ______________________
Causes and effects of Climate Change
1. a.) Do you know of Climate Change? Yes No
(Please tick in the appropriate box)
b.) From the list below, please select three (3) most common causes of climate change
that you know of. (Please tick in the appropriate boxes)
Gas emissions Industrialization
Deforestation Land reclamation
Increase in use of technology and machine Fossil fuels
c.) The following are some effects of climate change. For each please fill in the
appropriate spaces using the following key:
√√ : very serious ═ : moderate ≠ : not serious at all
Effects Severity
 Salinity of soil
 Melting of the ice caps
 Rise in sea level
 Increase in temperature
 Thinning of the Ozone layer
 Coral bleaching
 Extreme high tides
 Extinction of flora and fauna
 Relocation (climate change refugees)
Confidentiality Clause: All answers pertaining to this questionnaire will be used solely for the purpose of
this assignment.
Appendix:

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Students’ awareness on climate change
2. a.) Where did you first hear about climate change?
Friends / family School / studies
Mass Media others, please specify
(Newspaper/TV/Internet/radio) ___________________________________
b.) How reliable was this source of information? Please indicate by writing either very
reliable, semi reliable or not reliable at all.
_______________________________________________________________________
NGO’s and Government Programs
3. a.) From the list below select by ticking in two boxes of the programmes that you are
familiar with or heard of.
Earth Hour Environment Week
Clean up campaigns Awareness programmes
Replanting of trees/mangroves others
If you have chosen others, please specify:
________________________________________________________________________
b.) In reference to your answer above, state if they are effective or not and explain why?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Recommendation
4. a.) Suggest two solutions to address the issue of climate change: one being an immediate
one and the other a long term solution.
 Immediate solution:
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
 Future solution:
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Thank you for your cooperation.