Abstract
Climate change is much discussed among professionals, academics, governments, local and international organisations. It is a phenomenon that is increasingly gaining attention because of its negative impacts on human, and natural environments and the economy. Human activities exacerbate climate change and this in turn impacts on livelihood and environment. Urban activities such as transportation and building (household) related activities increase atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases. Other activities that contribute to greenhouse gas emission include change of land use, removal of land cover, use of fertilizer, pollution of water bodies, deforestation, industrialization, urbanization and poor municipal waste management. However, it is quite unclear whether urban residents have adequate awareness and understanding of what the phenomenon entails and how their daily activities impact atmospheric greenhouse gases’ concentration. To this end, questionnaires were distributed to 600 households selected from three local government areas in Lagos State. Data gathered were analysed and presented using tables, percentages, pie and multiple bar charts. Result of analysis indicate that although most urban residents indicate various level of awareness of occurrence, they are least aware of the contribution of household activities to atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration and that professional property managers hardly sensitize occupants in this direction. The study concludes by suggesting ways to call the attention of urban residents to the impact of household activities on atmospheric greenhouse gases’ concentration with a view to reducing emission from this sector in the future.
Highlights
Climate change has emerged as one of the most devastating phenomenon that threatens both human and natural environments
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) defines climate change as a change of climate which is attributable directly or indirectly to human activities that alter the composition of the global atmosphere and which are in addition to natural climate variability observed over a comparable time period (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC], 2001)
This study has examined largely the awareness and understanding of urban population about the causes, contributors and consequences of climate change and show that despite the fact that majority indicate various level of awareness, their understanding of the phenomenon and consequences vary significantly while the knowledge of the causes is generally low
Summary
Climate change has emerged as one of the most devastating phenomenon that threatens both human and natural environments. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) defines climate change as a change of climate which is attributable directly or indirectly to human activities that alter the composition of the global atmosphere and which are in addition to natural climate variability observed over a comparable time period (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC], 2001). The author further identified natural processes as (i) astronomical factors such as the eccentricity of earth’s orbit, obliquity of ecliptic and orbital procession; and (ii) extraterrestrial factors such as the quality and quantity of solar radiation as well as volcanic eruptions. The quantum of energy consumed and harmful gases released from these activities have been identified as a major factor accelerating atmospheric global warming in recent times. The IPCC Working Group III, (2007) asserted that global greenhouse gas (GHG) release via human activities have increased by 70% from 1970 to 2004
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