Climate Change and Poverty: Assessing Impacts in Nigeria

Abstract

It is an indisputable fact that the global climate is changing. These changes have been attributed to natural variability and human activity on the environment. Climate change poses serious challenges and takes centre stage in the global agenda as an issue calling for corporate strategies and appropriate measures by countries, communities, and individuals. The United Nations and other actors are responding to the challenge with the major focus on t he development of strategies, and policy framework. These approaches are used to attain sustainable community climate related livelihoods. It is on this basis, that this paper examines climate change and poverty and its impact in Nigeria. It was revealed f rom the study that the means of livelihood is being affected by climate change. These impacts are as a result of devastating effects of flooding, drought, erosion, desertification, sea level rise, heat stress, pests and diseases, erratic rainfall patterns etc. which are all due to climate change. The paper further emphasized the need for climate policy in Nigeria, the establishment of Nigerian Climate Change Commission (NCCC), the development of a national framework for climate change adaptation, and the embracing of emerging technologies among others. It showcased the new role of agricultural extension in the face of climate risk management. These include awareness creation, mobilization, training, assistance, and dissemination of proven measures of mitigation/adaptation to climate change among vulnerable communities in Nigeria.