Rural Women Belief System and Attitude Toward Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies in Nigeria

Abstract

Climate change has affected both the natural and human systems, of which the women in the rural areas and their livelihood practices are the mostly affected. This study was conducted in some selected rural communities of Osun state in Southwest, Nigeria among women involved in different livelihood practices to find out issues about climate change impacts on the rural women such as: Are the rural women aware of climate change and its impacts? How prepared are they for climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies? Are there any socio-cultural barriers to combating climate change? The study therefore focused attention on their beliefs, attitude and perception about climate change. It also discussed the barriers their beliefs and attitude posed to the establishment and implementation of mitigation and adaptation strategies in the rural areas. Focus Group Discussions, in-depth interview and questionnaire were employed to capture awareness, actual beliefs and attitude, the effect of such attitude and beliefs on adopting mitigation and adaptation strategies. Data collected were analysed using Atlas.ti and SPSS. Most of the women in the rural areas are aware of the impacts of climate change in their environment, especially, on their livelihoods. However, the awareness level has not impacted on them positively to adopt any mitigation and adaptation strategies. This is due to their belief system that climate change is not a consequence of anthropogenic activities. Recommendations were made as to how these problems could be solved for the women in the rural areas to embrace mitigation and adaptation strategies.