Impact of Human Behaviours on Climate Change in Nigeria

By Mosope Kehinde

Climate change in Nigeria is one major challenge that has become a great concern to stakeholders.

In this special report, our reporter, Mosope Kehinde takes a look at the impact of human behaviours on climate change in Nigeria.

No doubt, both human and animals, not leaving out all the sectors of Nigeria’s socio economic existence are being threatened with the impact of climate change which are obviously caused by the nonchalant attitude of some citizens.

Some of such behaviors contributing to climate change are, but not limited to, indiscriminate dumping of refuse, bush burning, tree felling and open defecation.

According to report, the effects of climate change prompted the World Meteorological Organization, in its 40th Executive Council 1988, to establish a new international scientific assessment panel to be called the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

However, the 2007 IPCC’s fourth and final Assessment Report (AR4) revealed that there is a considerable threat of climate change that requires urgent global attention.

The earth faces environmental threats which include atmospheric and marine pollution, global warming, ozone depletion, the dangers of pollution by nuclear and other hazardous substances, as well as the extinction of various wildlife species.

There is no gain saying the fact that man depends on his environment for existence and sustenance, such that man’s life is shaped by his environment and this underscores the need for the protection of the environment from all forms of degradation, especially those brought about by the activities of man.

Emphasizing the significance and inevitability of the environment for survival of man, environmental experts argued that without the environment, man cannot exist since human activities are made possible by the existence of his environment.

Speaking on the physical, biological and chemical factors affecting climate change that must be addressed, President Environmental Health Officers Association, Oyo State, Nigeria, Mr Abiodun Tijani, said man’s inability to prioritize the care of the environment played pivotal roles at curbing the impact of climate change in the country.

Mr. Tijani explained that it is unfortunate to hear that Nigeria is among the dirtiest countries of the world, that is why individuals, government and the communities must rise up to their responsibilities by complying with sanitation rules.

“We have to protect our water sources, the water you pollute here is being used in another place by other people“.

He said, “Concerning the issues of climate change, whatever we throw into the environment is what the environment throws back at us. Indiscriminate disposal of refuse is a major challenge were having in Nigeria, that’s why we were having climatic change and chlorofluorocarbon in the air.”

“People dump refuse indiscriminately on the ground, by the time its raining, it will wash the remaining chemical in the substance or object to the stream thereby destroying the soil enriching nutrient, by the time we destroy this, were also destroying our ecosystem.”

Mr Emmanuel Ola-Olowoyo, is the Network Coordinator, Sustainable Development Solutions Network, who decried the indiscriminate felling of trees and other human-driven factors contributing to climate change.

He harped on the need for public enlightenment on the significance of trees which he said helps to absorb green house gas emissions a major contributor to negative climatic change.

Mr Ola-Olowoyo expressed happiness that stakeholders in Nigeria are beginning to give priority to climate education, noting that many organizations are now concerned about climate and environmental issues.

“However, Nigerians have a lot of work to do as regards taking care of our environment and we have to be conscious about how we keep the environment clean and healthy; things we do that contribute to having a sustainable future. The natural resources we have are also depleting and reducing, how are we managing these resources, how are we keeping the environment , so that the forthcoming generation will meet there own needs?, Mr Ola-Olowoyo asked.

“It is very important that we take this as a collective responsibility, don’t throw a sachet water nylon away, you have to reuse it, keep it or give it to any recycling company, reduce your plastics or water bottles, reuse instead of using different bottles all the time.”

He said apart from the fact that trees protect buildings and structures from windstorm; it provides fresh oxygen to humanity.

Nigeria is not shielded from the rest of the world in terms of the effect of climate change.

The outcomes of climate change have been felt across the vegetative regions of the Nigeria.

Research has shown that climate change is increasingly becoming a major threat to agricultural productivity in Nigeria.

An expert in agricultural value chain and agribusiness, Mr Wole Okewole, noted that the effect of the climate change has made Nigerians to experience more dry days and less rainy days in 2022 which has affected farming experience especially in the agrarian areas where small holder farmers reside.

Mr. Okewole said many of the farmers lack access to irrigation facilities.

He said, “At the end of the day, the limitations we are having is going to affect all of us, food security is not just about the farmers, its about everyone and their environmental habits. We have to understand that government must be able to see reasons, they must be more robust in addressing climate and environmental challenges”.

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