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1.1 INTRODUCTION.

1.2 Environmental Management.

Environmental management Submitted by: M.Samyuktha 11011BA022 6th Semester Concept

of Sustainable development it is a pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs while
preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for
generations to come. The development initiatives be initiated in such a way that the future
generations can enjoy the benefits of Nature without any compromise. Sustainable development
is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs at the global scale and in the broadest sense. Environmental
management involves the Oceans Fresh water systems Land & Atmosphere But following the
sustainability principle of scale it can be equally applied to any ecosystem from a tropical
rainforest to a home garden.

Environmental Management:

Environmental Management It’s an attempt to control human impact on and interaction with the
environment in order to preserve natural resources. Environmental management focuses on the
improvement of human welfare for present and future generations. Administrative functions that
develop, implement, and monitor the environmental policy of an organization. Environment
management implies not only a mere management of environment but it is essentially the
management of various activities with intolerable constraints imposed by the environment itself
and with full consideration of ecological factors. Thus it involves environmental planning,
conservation of resources, environmental status evaluation and environmental legislation and
administration.

Characteristics of Environmental Management:

It deals with world affected by humans; it supports sustainable development, It demands a

multidisciplinary approach; It has to integrate different development view points; The time-scale
involved extends the short term and concern ranges from local to global; It seeks to integrate
natural & social science, policy making & planning. This Environmental management implies an

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element of conscious choice from a variety of alternative proposals and furthermore that such a
choice involves purposeful commitment for recognized and desired objectives (Hare, 1970.).

1.3 Climate Change:

Climate change refers to change in a state of climate. That can be identified statistically and that
persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. Climate change is cause as a result of
accumulation of greenhouse gasses in the lower atmosphere. This can be due natural and
anthropogenic (human) cause. Currently is being cause by human releasing greenhouse gases.
Mainly, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbon etc. from the use fossil fuel.
(UNFCCC and IPCC 2005) Climate change refers to change overtime, whether due to natural
variability or as a result of human activity (McCarthy 2001: 2).
Climate Change as Global Issue:

Climate change has become a global issue in recent times manifesting in variations of different
climate parameters including cloud cover, precipitation, temperature ranges, sea levels and
vapour pressure (Ministry of Environment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MoEFRN) 2003:
43). The variations in climate parameters affect different sectors of the economy such as
agriculture, health, water resources, energy etc. The main cause of climate change has been
attributed to anthropogenic (human) activities. For example, the increased industrialization in the
developed nations has led to the introduction of large quantities of greenhouse gases (GHGs),
including carbon (IV) oxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) into the atmosphere.
These GHGs are the primary causes of global warming. The global increases in CO 2
concentration are due primarily to fossil fuel use and land use change, while those of CH 4 and
N2O are primarily due to agriculture. (Spore 2008: 43). Incidences of climate change include
changes in soil moisture, soil quality, crop resilience, timing/length of growing seasons, yield of
crops and animals, atmospheric temperatures, weed insurgence, flooding, unprecedented
droughts, sea level rises and many more.

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2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW:

2.2 Environmental Management Concept:

Environmental management is concerned with the man-environment interface, the complex

boundary where bio-physical and socio-cultural systems interact” (Hare, 1970.) “An approach
which goes beyond natural resources management to encompass the political and social as well
as the natural environment”. - (Clarke, 1999.) “Environmental management – a generic
description of a process undertaken by systems oriented professionals with a natural science,
social science or less commonly, an engineering, law or design background, tackling problem of
human altered environment on an interdisciplinary basis from a quantitative and/or futuristic
viewpoint”. - (Downey, 1989) Some other definitions “The process of allocating natural and
artificial resources so as to make optimum use of the environment in satisfying basic human
needs, at the minimum, and more, if possible, on a sustainable basis”.(Jolly, 1978.) Throughout
the world, particularly in developing countries, there is an urgent need for the management of
total environment. In the first instance environmental management must do three things: Identify
goals Establish whether these can be met and Develop and implement means to do what it deems
possible.

Projections of increases in rainfall in the humid regions of southern Nigeria, which are
accompanied by increases in cloudiness and rainfall intensity particularly during severe storms.
Similarly, the savannah areas of northern Nigeria were projected to experience less rainfall,
which coupled with temperature increases, reduces soil moisture availability. Increased
temperatures and accompanying decrease in water availability reduce the length of growing
seasons and yield potential and hence the areas suitable for agriculture, further adversely
affecting food security over the continent (Thornton et al. 2006: 23-27). It is now clear that most
adverse climatic and environmental impacts that occur today are manifestations of man’s
inadvertent modifications to climate on local and to a limited extent, regional scale in some
activities of the distant past.

2.3 The Trends and Role of Environmental Management:

Impact Assessment and Planning (IAP). Assessing environmental and social impacts prior to
setting up operations and obtaining environmental approval from the authorities is almost

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mandatory in most project categories. IAP assessments may be required not only for newly
constructed facilities, but also for new operations that will be housed in an existing building.
Environmental Liability and Clean-up foreign investment has resulted in heightened scrutiny of
current and historic environmental problems associated with property owners. Sustainability and
Regulatory Compliance to increasing desire of Nigeria companies to meet world class standards
has caused established companies in Nigeria to take on sustainability initiatives as a means of
improving their global brand and reputation.

2.3.1 Environmental Initiatives:

Global initiatives: ISO14000 EMS certification The International Environmental Standards

are intended to provide organizations with the elements of an effective environmental system,
which can be integrated with other management requirements to assist organizations to achieve
of an environmental management system to support it to cover the following major areas:
Environmental management system. Environmental auditing. Environmental labeling
Environmental Performance evaluation. Life cycle Assessment. ISO 14000 builds a single global
management system that allows effective management of environmental responsibilities,
liabilities, costs; document commitment to governmental management system (EMS).

2.4 Climate Change or Global Warming:

According to Wikipedia Encyclopedia (2013), climate change is a significant and lasting change
in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of
years. It may be a change in average weather conditions, or in the distribution of weather around
the average conditions. Climate change is caused by factors such as biotic processes, variations
in solar radiation received by Earth, plate tectonics, and volcanic eruptions. Certain human
activities have also been identified as significant causes of recent climate change, often referred
to as ‘’global warming’’

Climate change or global warming has become a new reality, with deleterious effects: seasonal
cycles are disrupted, as are ecosystems; and agriculture, water needs and supply, and food
production are all adversely affected. Global warming (climate change) also leads to sea-level
rise with its attendant consequences, and includes fiercer weather, increased frequency and

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intensity of storms, floods, hurricanes, droughts, increased frequency of fires, poverty,

malnutrition and series of health and socio-economic consequences. It has cumulative effects on
natural resources and the balance of nature.

The impact of climate change can be vast. In Nigeria, this means that some stable ecosystems
such as the Sahel Savanna may become vulnerable because warming will reinforce existing
patterns of water scarcity and increasing the risk of drought in Nigeria and indeed most countries
in West Africa. As well, the country’s aquatic ecosystems, wetlands and other habitats will create
overwhelming problems for an already improvised populace.

In Nigeria and other West African Countries, small changes in comparison to the normal climatic
factors can lead to:

 Climate extremes with disastrous consequences especially with agriculture and animal
resources
 Adverse effects on the economy
 Desertification and Deforestation
 Migration of populations resulting from poverty associated with climatic effects

Global Climate Change is considered as one of the most serious threats to sustainable
development. It has adverse effects on human health, food security, economic activity, water
resources, as well as physical infrastructure. It is caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere.

2.3.1 Evidence of Climate Change

1. Temperature Increase – temperature of the earth’s surface has increased by an

average of about 0.3 to 0.6 C since the end of the 19th Century.
0

2. Sea level changes/rise- The sea level rose by average of 10 to 25cm during the past 100
years.

3. Observed Environmental Systems- Risk of rainfall deficit are confirmed. A deficit of 20

to 30% in rainfall results in a water shortage or deficit of 40 to 60%.

2.3.2 IMPACTS/ IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

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1. Based on the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projection, the humid
tropical areas OF Southern Nigeria, which are already too hot and too wet, are expected
to be characterized by increase in both precipitation and temperature.

2. Already, temperature increases of about 0.20 C – 0.30 C per decade have been observed in
the various ecological zones of the country.

3. Based on the IPCC projection, precipitation increases of about 2-3% for each degree of
global warming may be expected for the humid zones of Nigeria. Thus, it is reasonable to
expect that the precipitation would probably increase by approximately 5-20% in the very
humid areas of the forest regions and southern savannah areas.

Climate change is also expected to have the following impacts on Nigeria’s water sector-
increases, in sea surface temperature, and mean global sea level, changes in salinity, wave
conditions and ocean circulation; disruption of marine ecosystems dynamics, with significant
impacts on fish-dependent human societies; and increased levels of flooding, accelerated erosion,
loss of wetlands and mangroves and seawater intrusion into freshwater sources. Other
consequences of drought in Northern Nigeria include a decrease of water table flows in the
alluvial aquifers, resulting in a decrease of base flows; a decrease of the non-dissolved solid
transportation capacity due to the severe low flows; a reduction of the capacity of the rivers in
sediment transport while air, mechanical and hydraulic erosion has been accentuated.

Nigeria is likely to experience an increase in global warming from 1.4 0C to 5.80 C over
the period 1990 to 2100

 Rainfall to the North-West of Nigeria has been observed to be decreasing in its

mean value; evaporation is increasing while runoff for Kanji reservoir is
decreasing. All these have adverse implications on hydroelectric energy
generation as less water is available for most part of the year.
 Particularly for Agricultural production, unabated or unmitigated effects of
Climate Change are ominous for sustainable food production for a growing
population. (Jinadu 2018).

3.1 FINIDING AND DISUSSION.

3.2 Objective of Environmental Management.

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Is an approach which integrates Ecology, Policy making, Planning and Social development in an
environment such as:

1. To prevent and solve environmental problems. Such as Deforestation, Change in ocean

current, Solar activity, Volcanic eruption, Flood, Biodiversity, Drought, Hurricane, High
and low precipitation, Increases in average global air and ocean temperatures,
Widespread melting of snow and ice, Rising average global sea levels. .

2. To establish limits in human activity on the environment. A standard parameter or

scope to limit the adverse impact of anthropogenic causes, such as fossil fuel burning
forest clearance.

3. To develop research institutions and monitoring systems. To established an

environmental management body that will coordinate, control and guide human activities
that are of detriment to environment, such as, Atmospheric monitoring like Copernicus
that aims at providing information on atmospheric composition. Afforestation that aims at
improving vegetation cover and forest etc.

4. To warn threats and identify opportunities. Set aside some measures to inform people
about the occurrence of environmental hazard and their consequences. Through
developing early warning system, about the impending disaster so as to take preventive
measures to reduce impact of disasters. By forecasting and prediction, announcing the
warning and reaction.

5. To suggest measures for resource conservation. By introducing an alternative way of

managing our resource, switching to renewable forms of energy such as solar and wind
power. Natural carbon sinks, such as forests, vegetation and soils, can also managed to
absorb carbon dioxide.

6. To develop a strategy for the improvement of quality. Developing new measures like
altering farming practices and crop varieties, Building new water reserviours, Enhancing
water use efficiency, Changing building codes, Diversifying livelihoods, Building food
defences, Heat and drought-resisting crops, Land use planning, Investing in air-
conditioning, and Constructing sea walls. Through the following generic options. Bear

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losses, Share losses, Modify the threat, Prevent effects, Change use, change location,
Research, and Encourage behavioural change through education, information and
regulation.

7. To suggest long-term and short-term policies for sustainable development. In Nigeria

lacks the most basic standards and policy for disaster risk prevention, management and
reduction is a subject that has received considerable attention on a regular basis. By
international standards, oil pipes ought to be replaced after 15 to 20 years, but most
pipelines in use in Nigeria are about 20 to 25 years old, making them vulnerable to
corrosion and leakage. In some cases, the pipes are laid above ground level without
adequate surveillance, exposing them to wear and tear and other dangers. It is also noted
that most of the facilities were constructed between the 1960s and early 1980s to the then
prevailing standards. Short term policies to improved coping capacities in order to lessen
the adverse impacts of hazards, such as flood. And such hazards can be removed through
good policy management practices. Such as structural and non-structural measures e.g.
construction of flood barrages or dikes, public education, early warning services. The
need to systematically integrate risk reduction and adaptation into the national
environmental development strategies, should be a key conclusion from a number of
recent international policy forums. “The stockholm plan of action for integrating disaster
risk and climate change impacts in poverty reduction” and Oslo policy forum on
“changing the way we develop.

8. To identify new technology for future development. Efficient furnace systems, is a new
technology that have low-energy, to reduce the consumption of intensive products from
industry and transport. Technology to capture carbon dioxide at industrial sources and to
inject into permanent storage deep underground. And introduction of “sinks” such as
forest to change behaviour pattern or technology development and diffusion.

3.2.1 Environmental Management Scheme:

Step i: Identification of objectives and define problems.

Step ii: Determination of appropriate action plan.

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Step iii: Implementation & progress evaluation.

Step iv: Monitoring & adjust management.
Step v: Future environmental management and planning
3.2.2 Monitoring and Managing the Environment

The first step in responding to global warming and other environmental issues is to have
adequate knowledge of the extent and nature of the effects of climate change on the environment.
Thus before the environment can be meaningfully monitored and protected, all parameters
defining the environment must be relatively and spatially located to create a spatial Global
Warming and the Environment: Issue and Geoinformation Challenges Knowing to manage the
territory, protect the environment, evaluate the cultural heritage database. Information about the
status of these parameters can then be treated as metadata and linked to the database. In other
words when we know the parameters defining the environment and the natural interrelationship
which helps to maintain a balanced ecosystem, then we can start to put in place all measures to
ensure that the initial balance is maintained by cautioning the activities of man; co-operating
with and taking measures to check some adverse effects of some natural occurrences on man and
the environment. Therefore adequate framework for monitoring and managing the environment
must be put in place; which framework should be proactive in nature rather than correcting
distortions of existing physical development planning. This means that actions should
continually be taken to respond to the ever increasing environmental challenges and to plan
ahead of challenges

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Fig 2 Average Climate Change over the Century (Adapted from Holdren 2010)

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3.2.3 Summary of Environmental Management Finding/Discussion:

In general, Nigeria has many policies, strategies and plans that can address general adaptation
measures in some climate change vulnerable sectors such as agriculture, water resources, forests
and ecosystems, and coastal marine environment. However, the policy framework to align
human development and climate change response efforts through adaptation is largely
undeveloped in the country. The country’s institutional capacity to respond effectively to climate
change is weak. Apart from the SCCU in the Federal Ministry of Environment and a few
institutions at the national level (for example, NIMET and the Climate Centre in Minna), there is
no formal institutional structure at state and local government levels to address climate change.
Even then, the capacity of SCCU to drive and coordinate national climate change response is
weak. There are very few people with proven competencies in the Unit and facilities remain
inadequate. Furthermore, the national institutions, including the SCCU, are not properly funded
The less attention or poor institutional framework on environmental management standard, such
as, policies and strategies, plans, monitoring and evaluation of natural and anthropogenic
activities. Have caused so many negative impact (Hazard) on the environment, that lead to global
warming, such as, Greenhouse gasses, Deforestation, Flooding, Desertification, Drought,
Hurricane, Volcanic eruption, Industrial operations, Urban development and land use, Earth
quark etc. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The root causes itemized above, have result to climate change. According to the geological
evidence of ice ages and sea- level changes, and by the records of human history over many
hundreds of years. The global temperatures in Nigeria have risen unusually rapidly over the last
few decades. There is an increase in average global air and ocean temperatures, widespread
melting of snow and ice, and rising average global sea level. United Nation Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

4.1 IMPLICATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN NIGERIA.

4.2 Climate Change or Global Warming:

Climate change or global warming has become a new reality, with deleterious effects:
seasonal cycles are disrupted, as are ecosystems; and agriculture, water needs and supply, and
food production are all adversely affected. Global warming (climate change) also leads to sea

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level rise with its attendant consequences, and includes fiercer weather, increased frequency and
intensity of storms, floods, hurricanes, droughts, increased frequency of fires, poverty,
malnutrition and series of health and socio-economic consequences. It has a cumulative effect on
natural resources and the balance of nature.
Nigeria, like many other countries, is exposed to climate change-induced dangers of
desertification, erosion, flooding and other ecological problems. Considering the strong link
between climate change and development, Nigeria is highly at risk in the area of food and
nutrition, poverty and hunger reduction, and most importantly, economic development.
Consequently, Nigeria’s efforts and actions must be informed by these realities. These research,
therefore, seeks to determine the extent to which climate change has affected Nigeria and the
possible environmental management strategies adopted to manage the challenges associated with
the changes in climate. Despite that there is favourable climate, yet there are some challenges
that Nigeria is facing as a result of climate change.

The agricultural sector contributes some percentage of the Nigerian Gross National Product
and majority of the rural populace are employed in this sector. The dominant role of agriculture
makes it obvious that even minor climate deteriorations can cause devastating socioeconomic
consequences. Policies to curb the climate change by reducing the consumption of fossil fuels
like oil, gas or carbon, have significant economic impacts on the producers or rather the suppliers
of these fuels. Nigeria is the eighth largest oil producing country in the world and the ninth
largest deposits of gas. The Nigerian national economy would be massively affected by a
sustainable reduction of fossil energy consumption. Nigeria is practically a monophonic culture:
about 80% of the government income, 90-95% of the export earnings and more than 90% of the
foreign exchange revenues evolve from the oil sector. However, during the last years the
government of Nigeria tried to diversify. Special attention is nowadays paid to gas which
emerges in the joint-production of oil. So far the gas has mainly been flared (75%), simply due to
the lack of technical facilities to make use of it.
A study commissioned by the World Bank in 2007 Nigeria accounts for roughly one-sixth of
the world-wide gas flaring which in turn, spews some 400 million tons of carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere. However, the World Bank survey has listed Nigeria and 15 other oil producers, as
countries that have progressively reduced gas flaring. Following the Kyoto-Protocol is a double-
edged sword for Nigeria: The probably positive long term effects on the climate change are

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opposed to the negative short term effects for the economic development. Observing the Kyoto-
Protocol would reduce the income of the OPEC – States, amongst them Nigeria, about 25% until
2010. This would be a catastrophe for the Nigerian development plan.
The countries politics and public discussions are barely addressing the mentioned problems.
The last two years were so much dominated by the internal questions of power that political
issues as regards content or even specific problems like the climate change would not have
attracted real attention outside the circle of environment experts or NGOs. In terms of short term
development policy more urgent worries exist and strategic foresight is not a fixed part of
politics in the country. Furthermore, the climate change and its problems and solution strategies
do not generate great publicity effects as they are too complex for rather superficial political
talks. Nigeria’s development plan does not recognize the economic threat caused by the climate
change nor the menace of declining oil prices which could result from a reduced consumption of
fossil fuels.
In the arid zones, droughts are getting worse and climate uncertainty is growing, Climate
change is an unprecedented and threat to food security. Arid and semi-arid areas in northern
Nigeria are becoming drier, while the southern part of the country are getting wetter, Global
warming means that many dry areas are going to get drier and wet areas are going to get wetter.
They are going to be caught between the devil of drought and the deep blue seas of floods.
However, “great tragedy” and Nigeria had played virtually no role in global warming; a problem
was caused by economic activity of the rich, industrial countries. Unless climate change was
tackled all the “best efforts” to help this great country could come to nothing. One of the biggest
threats is growing climate unpredictability, which makes subsistence farming difficult. But a
better planning to reduce the risk from disasters, together with developing agricultural practices
that can withstand changing climates, have been shown to work and could help mitigate the
impact if use more widely.
The impact of the change will be difficult to handle and it will be potentially very long lasting.
“It is very serious,” Two things, the scientific evidence on global warming is strengthening daily,
and there are risks over and above those that are usually considered. The disproportionate
impact on Nigeria will be for a combination of reasons. Global warming will be greater over land
than over sea because land retains heat more than water. There is also increasing evidence that it
will be particularly hit by the effect of vertical rises and falls in air currents. Climate change

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often appears very esoteric but in Nigeria, it’s real. We already have an increasing incidence of
disease, declining agricultural productivity, and a rising number of heat waves. There is glaring
evidence that climate change is not only happening but it’s changing our lives. Declining rainfall
in already desert-prone areas in northern Nigeria is causing increasing desertification, the former
food basket in central Nigeria is now empty, and people in the coastal areas who used to depend
on fishing have seen their livelihoods destroyed by the rising waters. Adapting to climate
variability and mitigating its impacts is something that we do in our everyday lives, but we have
to understand what climate change is, that we contribute to it, and how we can adapt and reduce
our vulnerabilities.
4.2.1 Effects of Climate Change in Nigeria:

The impact of climate change can be vast. In Nigeria, this means that some stable ecosystems
such as the Sahel Savanna may become vulnerable because warming will reinforce existing
patterns of water scarcity and increasing the risk of drought in Nigeria. As well, the country’s
aquatic ecosystems, wetlands and other habitats will create overwhelming problems for an
already impoverished populace. Preliminary studies on the vulnerability of various sectors of the
Nigerian economy to Climate Change were conducted by NEST. The sectors evaluated were
based on seven natural and human systems identified by the IPCC, and reduced into five:
1. Human settlements and health;
2. Water resources, wetlands, and freshwater ecosystems;
3. Energy, industry, commerce, and financial services;
4. Agriculture, food security, land degradation, forestry, and biodiversity; and
5. Coastal zone and marine ecosystems.
The study have firmed that almost all the sectors analyzed have evidence of vulnerability to
climate change, that will result to serious consequences in the future through changes of climatic
conditions. In fact more recent assessment, although in regional and global scale, not only agree
with the patterns established by CN-CCCDP reports but captured more disturbing situations
using more embracing and sophisticated methods (Parry et al. 2007: 3). Indications are that the
climate system is more sensitive than originally thought.
In general, Nigeria has many policies, strategies and plans that can address general adaptation
measures in some climate change vulnerable sectors such as agriculture, water resources, forests

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and ecosystems, and coastal marine environment. However, the policy framework to align
human development and climate change response efforts through adaptation is largely
undeveloped in the country.
Unlike Ghana, Nigeria has not been able to develop a structured approach to climate change
adaptation. Ghana was able to do this through the implementation of Netherlands assisted
Climate Adaptation Programme (NCAP) that enabled the country to undertake detailed
vulnerability assessment of various sectors. The implementation of NCAP has also enabled
Ghana to develop a National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Nigeria has no National
Climate Change Policy and Strategy that should have presented Nigeria’s current and future
efforts to address climate change vulnerability and adaptation and therefore made risk
management difficult. The First National Communication was produced November, 2003. The
closest Nigeria is to having an acceptable adaptation response framework is a working document
on Adaptation Strategies of Action prepared by HBS for the Special Climate Change Unit
(SCCU) of the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Nationally Designated Authority for climate
change in Nigeria. But there is no clear indication that the document has been adapted as a
national plan of action.
There are many ways that climate change could affect Nigerians especially citizens of Enugu
State. Some of the impacts will be direct, others will be indirect. Urban populations are growing
and contributing to environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, environmental decay, and
water/air/environmental pollution. Nigeria will be affected by climate change in a variety of
ways. Urban and rural population concentrations will be disrupted, particularly along the
coastline due to sea-level rise and related phenomena. Also deforestation, industrial releases,
improper sewage disposals are some of the major factors that are responsible for climate change
in Nigeria. It was also observed that flooding, drought, erosion, sea level rise are the various
challenges and effects that climate change poses on the country. Government / agencies in
charge have not proffered solutions/ways to manage the associated risks of climate change in
Nigeria.
Some settlements are known to have already relocated farther inland from their original sites
in response to sea incursion over some decades. Population displacement and migration from,
and to, various human settlements will arise from either or both of drought incidence in the

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Northern states of the country and accelerated sea level rise in the coastal regions. Rises in sea
level will also threaten urban and rural infrastructure facilities in low lying coastal regions
Extreme climate conditions such as high wind, heavy rainfall, heat and cold can result in
wide-ranging scenarios such as tropical storms, floods, landslides, droughts and sea-level rise.
Climatic catastrophes induce populations to be displaced (or decimated by death), which in turn
can lead to conflict and civil unrest. As well, the public health infrastructure would be eroded if
resources are diverted from its maintenance to disaster recovery. Communities and government
would be burdened with having to make reparations to individuals for property damage and loss,
unemployment, clean-up, and reduced socioeconomic viability of the communities affected.
Changes in weather and climate have been known to profoundly influence water resources, a
factor that increases the vulnerability of humans to infection. Generally, water resources involve
all forms of fresh water needed for life’s necessities, ranging from domestic needs to drinking,
washing and cleaning, to agricultural needs involving food processing and irrigation, to other
general needs.
Climate change is surely one phenomenon that has tested the Nigerian government and so far,
the government has failed the test looking at the low level preparedness of the country in tackling
the imminent dangers of climate change. Apart from various workshops and seminars to pay lip
services to the many problems climate change poses to the nation, some experts have said
Nigeria still has no structure or any coordinated mechanism in place to tackle the challenge of
climate change in the country.
The International Centre for Energy, Environment and Development (ICEED) and Nigerian,
environmental group Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), have continued to call on the
Federal Government to put in place mechanisms that would enable Nigeria mitigate and adapt to
climate change difficulties but little has been done in that regard.
For example, the Climate Change Commission bill that seeks the establishment of a climate
change commission that would coordinate climate change responses and action for the country is
one issue that has lingered for so long in the legislative process and is still suffering delay. Many
environmental stakeholders are beginning to describe the delay as a show of lack of concern of
the danger posed by climate change.

5.1 RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION:

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5.2 RECOMMENDATIONS.
Nigeria should focus more on economic activities that are tertiary in nature which generate
little greenhouse gases; development should be stop in areas likely to be flooded; the citing of
new facilities and the location of infrastructure should not be very close to the sea; already
threatened infrastructure/facilities should be relocated soonest; Nigeria should develop a
technology that can capture at least 80% of carbon emitted by industries which are discharged
into the atmosphere; the spaces in rural areas and urban centres should be earmarked or
apportioned for rigorous and extensive tree planting (Afforestation); there should be a heightened
public awareness on the danger associated with climate change; resettlements should be
encouraged in certain areas of the country;
Nigeria should develop a cleaner source of energy instead of it’s over dependence on fossil
fuel energy that generate greenhouse gases such as renewable form. While already existing
energy production facilities should be physically protected with barriers; agencies responsible for
the environment should enforce laws and regulations, particularly with respect to urban planning
and development and adherence to industrial standards as well as erection of structures or
utilities in ecologically sensitive areas; town and cities should be well planned and free of
industrial and municipal wastes; there should be a decentralization of commercial activities in the
city centre, as this causes heavy traffic congestion and high level of gas emissions/exhaust
emissions; industries should be relocated to more favourable sites with less sensitivity. While
appropriate location for new industries be mapped out; drainages should be constructed in and
around coastal areas to drains the runoff water. Specifically, many different stakeholders in the
development planning process should be leading researches, for example, National, State and
Local governments are likely to look at changes in flood risk; public water corporations, relevant
government agencies, as well as government regulators, should be looking at the impacts of
climate change on water resources; and government agencies along with non-governmental
organizations should be researching impacts of climate change on ecology, land management and
the environment. Climate change and impact researches will need to specify changes in
temperatures and precipitation and specify the changes in spatial and temporal respect. Provision
of information about the spatial impact of natural hazards connected to climate change is
relevant. There is the need to develop procedures to integrate high level quantitative climate risk

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assessment into the spatial planning process. The need for policies adjustment that will intensify
the installation of risk reduction process at local and regional level.
Nigeria can use UK’s plan-led system. This involves preparing plans that set out what can be
built and where. The plan-led system was updated by an Act of Parliament (the Planning and
Compulsory Purchase Act) in December 2004. This PPS replaced Planning Policy Guidance
Note 1, General Policies and Principles, published in February 1997. It is pertinent to note that
very salient and robust issues were discussed which were of National attention.
5.3 CONCLUSION.
With an estimated population of about 180 million people spread over a total area of 923,800
square kilometres, Nigeria is one of the most populous nations in the world. This population have
also contributed to global warming and consequently, climate change. With the current estimates
indicate that emissions from combined livestock population of over 44 million led to the
emissions of over 1115g of methane (CH4). Also, rice production led to the emissions of 1090g
CH4, while savannah burning generated 109g CH4, 3.4g N20, and 2890g CO (Federal Ministry
of Environment 2010: 45). These GHGs generated from several industrial processes in one way
or the other finds its way into the atmosphere thereby increasing the threat of climate change in
Nigeria. As long as these situations abound, so many activities in space are at one risk or the
other. Present and future activities need to be planned and executed in space such that the future
is not risked. The issue of adaptation to climate change, includes planning for our urban and rural
environment is the topmost priority in Nigeria. Hence, professionals in the built environment
should take note. Though the issue of climate change is becoming recognized by the planners
with respect to flood risk. The growing trend of disasters in Nigeria has implications for national
sustainability. This is because disasters, irrespective of the causal factors are associated with
diverse externalities such as mortalities, loss of income, home, farmlands, social networks,
livelihoods and infrastructure.
The climate change and variability are likely to worsen the prospects for poverty eradication
unless action is taken to become response-capable. This requires a focus on reducing
vulnerability, achieving equitable growth and improving the governance and institutional context
in which poor people live.
In effect, the existing poverty reduction strategies are continuously challenged by climate
change which often time extends poverty. The country lacks capacity to anticipate and respond to

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climate change and changes related to risk. There is no adequate information on seasonal forecast
of climate variability to enable preparedness to climate related disaster and thus early warning
facilities are grossly underutilized.
Strategies to reduce vulnerability should be rooted in vulnerability analysis and greater
understanding of both household-level and macro response options that are available to decrease
the exposure to climate risk. Increasing the response-capability of Nigeria will require
information on seasonal forecast to enable the preparedness to climate variability as well as
longer term climate prediction data to ensure that strategies to reduce vulnerability also reflect
the underlying longer-term climate trends. Climate related risk. The first is still predominantly
focused on response to disaster events and fails to address the configuration of hazards,
vulnerabilities and risks. Moreover, mono hazard approaches still prevail in contexts more and
more typified by synergy and complexity and there is still a great deal to do in order to bring risk
management and sustainable development concerns and practices together. The second focuses
on the impact of future climate change on risk but fails to make the connection with currently
existing climate related risk events and patterns. At the same time, both approaches are divorced
both in concept and in terms of the institutional arrangements and programming mechanisms at
the national and international levels. Addressing and managing climate risk as it is manifested in
extreme events and impacts is the most appropriate way of strengthening capacities to deal with
climate change in the future.

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Environment Canada (EC) 2008. What is Climate Change? Climate Change: Overview. From <http:/
/www.ec.gc.ca/climate/overview-trends-e.html> (Retrieved on 24 January, 2008).

Federal Ministry of Environment of Nigeria 2010. Climate Change. From <http://environment.gov.ng/

issues/climate-change/> (Retrieved on 30 September, 2010).
Greiving PAO 2004. Regional evidence of climate change in Nigeria. J Geogr and Regnal Plg, 3(6): 142-
150.

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International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) 2008. Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies and Risk
Management Practices: Critical Elements for Adaptation to Climate Change. Submission to the
UNFCCC Adhoc Working Group on Long Term Cooperative Action. From <www.unisdr.org/.../risk-
reduction/climate-change/.../SC> (Retrieved 25 May 2011)

Jones PG, Thornton PK 2003. Croppers to Livestock Keepers: Livelihood Transition to 2010 in Africa
due to Climate Change. Global Environmental Change, Geneva: World Health Organization.
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Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Cambridge: Cambridge
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Mendelsohn R, Dinar A, Williams L 2006. The distributional impact of climate change on rich and poor
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Ministry of Environment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2003. Nigeria’s First National
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Muanya C 2010. Nigeria Hedges on the Quake Zone. The Guardian: 27 Jan. From <http: //www.
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