By Esohe Braimah
Africa is the most vulnerable continent to climate change impact despite its low contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions-so says the African Development Bank (AfDB). Unlike other continents, Africa isn’t well equipped or prepared to protect itself from the approaching disaster that is looming.
Climate Change is Goal 13 of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that came to force in January 2016 following its adoption in September 2015. Members are expected to achieve these goals by 2030.
The mission statement for Goal 13 is to take urgent action in combating climate change and its impact. Countries that have signed to the SDGs are to mobilise efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.
The UN describes Climate Change as a long-term shift in temperatures and weather patterns. Human actions are considered the major cause of climate change. Scientists and NGOs have not relented in creating awareness and drawing attention to the fact that there has been an abrupt change in biodiversity loss, rising sea levels, melting ice sheets and higher temperatures amongst others.
Most of these complaints have fallen on deaf ears. The world is slowly crawling into exceeding the global warming of 2°C deleterious temperature. They have warned about the risks to our climate of a rise in global temperatures of 2C over pre-industrial levels could make life unbearable for millions of people.
The intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) sixth assessment report chapter nine on climate change in Africa made several points on the impacts Africa will face in the nearest future. From the look of things, it seems that most of these impacts are manifesting already.
The IPCC report showed that limiting global warming to the safe zone of 1.5°C will substantially reduce damage to Africa’s human health, economies, agriculture, and ecosystems. The report also confirmed that exposure to climate change makes the continents very vulnerable. This is because a good percentage of its workforce is employed in the agricultural sector and the impacts of climate change always affect agriculture.
In addition, the report also stated that Africa is predicted to experience a loss of crops, livestock and fisheries which will then in turn lead to famine and widespread hunger. It also stated that climate change is the major cause of reduced economic growth across African countries.
The impacts of Climate Change also negatively affect the health sector in Africa. It is predicted millions of Africans will get climate-related diseases due to exposure to non-optimal temperatures and extreme weather conditions. The mobility and mortality rate is also feared to see an increased percentage.
Impacts of Climate Change in Nigeria
Over the years Nigeria has experienced the negative impacts of climate change. From the increase in temperature in the 80s to the massive flooding in 2012 and 2022, the nation has been able to identify six key hazards. They are
- Flood
- Drought
- Epidemic
- Landslide
- Extreme temperature
- Storm
Flood is one of the major impacts of climate change in Nigeria. In recent weeks Nigeria has experienced its most damaging flood incident which currently affects 31 out of the 36 states, 21 states out of the 31 are severely impacted.
The recent flooding has not only resulted in the loss of lives and properties, but its negative effect is also creeping into the agricultural, health, infrastructural and economic sectors. A report released by the local news showed that about one million Nigerians have been displaced and more than 300 lives have been lost due to the flooding.
The national emergency management agency termed this recent flooding the worst in decades and has warned that the situation could deteriorate further. It is also expected to see an increase in waterborne diseases in those areas due to the crisis.
One of the major causes of excessive flooding is a result of a general rise in sea levels. The rise in sea levels is another impact of climate change. Sea levels have been on the rise in the coastal part of Nigeria which is resulting in the loss of villages and farmlands.
The riverside areas of Nigeria are getting the major blow from this negative impact. Scientists estimated that a one-meter rise in sea levels could cause about 75% of the land in Niger Delta to be lost.
It is to be noted that the recent flooding in Nigeria correlates with the opening of the Lagado Dam in Cameroon, the overflowing of two of the country’s dams and excessive rainfall.
Nigeria has also been experiencing severe drought in parts of the country which is leading to the loss of crops and livestock. The major causes of drought in Nigeria are all man-made causes. It is caused by deforestation, overgrazing, poor cropping method and bush burning.
According to a report released by the federal ministry of environment in 2018, droughts occurred in Nigeria from the early 90s to the late 90s. The international monetary fund also confirmed that Nigeria and several other African countries experience 33% of the world’s drought due to their rain-fed agriculture.
The global disaster alert and coordination system (GDACS) has alerted drought for Nigeria in 2022. According to the summary, the drought lasted for one month and the drought indicators suggested anomalies typical of mild to severe events.
One of the worst drought incidents was recorded in the Lake Chad basin incident. Lake Chad basin is one of the largest freshwater sources and it has link with four African countries including Nigeria. It is recorded that the lake has shrunk by 90 per cent in the last 60 years and this is due to climate change.
Epidemic being one of the major key hazards of climate change impact in Nigeria is no surprise. Nigeria has been left in a vulnerable position which leaves it open to disease outbreaks. Over the last few years, Nigeria has recorded a huge influx of disease outbreaks in several parts of the country.
Diseases ranging from Yellow Fever, Malaria, Typhoid, Covid-19, Lassa fever, Ebola and Monkeypox. The weak ecosystem has left the body’s immune system fragile and unable to properly protect itself from diseases and sickness.
Landslide is a major climatic condition that occurs due to a lack of sheer strength in the composition of the soil. It is the mass movement of rock, debris or earth down a slope. Landslides have both natural and man-made causes.
The man-made cause is due to mining, construction, quarrying and excavations.
This climatic condition is very common in the southeastern part of the country and is a menace to people leaving in those parts. It has resulted in the loss of lives, and deaths and has left several other people injured.
Reasons why Nigeria isn’t properly protected against the impacts of climate change
Several problems pose reasons why Nigeria isn’t properly protected against the impacts of climate change and they are not without blame.
- Climate-related researches in the country face severe data constraints.
- The country lacks adequate funding in carrying out detailed and comprehensive research.
- The lack of proper weather forecasting stations in the country.
- Poor allocation of budgetary funds to the ministry of environment.
- Very few climate-related publications to spread the news far and wide on the issues the country faces with climate change.
Preventions and Mitigations of climate change in Nigeria.
There are so many bold steps the Nigerian government and its citizens can take in other to impede this looming peril.
- Put a price on carbon; Adaptation of carbon tax will limit the emission of greenhouse gases into the ecosystem.
- Reduce the use of fossil fuels; switching to more sustainable means of energy will benefit the nation.
- Implement climate smart structures; the government of the nation should put infrastructures in place to prevent causes like excessive flooding and land sliding.
- The government should allocate more funding in the budget to fuel research and proper forecasting in the coming future.
- The farmers should implement a more sustainable way of practicing agriculture.
- The government should create a one-stop shop where people can read up and learn about climate issues without being misled.
In conclusion, it is never too late to start putting measures in place to mitigate the impacts of climate change in Nigeria, and also prevent deleterious situations.
Esohe is an undergraduate at the Department of Finance, University of Lagos.
