By Yemi Olakitan
Climate change is a serious problem in Nigeria because the exhaust of many automobiles do release greenhouse gases such as carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere. This is a common cause of climate change in many urban communities as well as Nigerian cities.
Hydrocarbon products being burned also causes the atmosphere to be filled with gases, including carbon dioxide.
Environmentalists also link climate change to ozone depletion. Sunlight is filtered by the ozone layer but human activities and natural gases destroy the ozone layer.
Sulfur dioxide, chlorofluorocarbon, and carbon monoxide are examples of gases that harm the ozone layer.
Greenhouse gases also trap solar heat on Earth, causing global warming.
Depletion and gas emission levels cause excess heat on the earth over time. It also puts a pressure on water supply.
In 2022, floods devastated Nigeria, South Africa, Benin, Madagascar, and Central African Republic. Floods destroyed livelihoods, key infrastructure, education, and economies.
As a result, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that the globe may become uninhabitable unless nations rethink their energy policy.
Climate change adaptation protects infrastructure, creates economic possibilities, and benefits society and the environment. It is crucial for African governments to help citizens fight, understand and adapt with climate change.
As a result, a climate change awareness effort is needed to reduce family vulnerability. Furthermore relocating residents and repairing damaged homes to adapt to flood risk in the city is key.
Lack of government backing and income level also shaped adaption strategies. Cheap housing and jobs are factors that draw low-income people to flood-prone locations.
In unplanned cities such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan, Nigerians build houses too close to one another. This ensure that homes do not have enough spaces to plant trees and garden to fight climate change.
Poverty increases climate risk in many ways, from exposure to catastrophic events like floods and storms to lower access to resilience-building coping techniques or modern homes.
So, government and civil society organizations should assist residents in adapting to climate change.
This involves obeying national building requirements, wetlands restoration, and tree planting.
State and federal governments must development partners, and business sector must contribute to the adaptation process in their communities where they operate.
They can build infrastructure, plan land use, create profit from waste, modify behaviour, and recover green places.
They can build climate-resilient buildings, buy home insurance, warn or support neighbours, and use plants to improve drainage and comfort.
Education and mass enlightenment is key, so that Nigerians can change or modify the way they live with climate changes risks and potential dangers.