Urbarinzation and the Challenge of Climate Change in Nigeria Cities: A Review

Abstract

Climate Change is currently one of the most challenging global environmental issues facing our generation. This paper presents an analytical review of the interactions between urban centers and climate change. The paper has a focus on two main themes: the interaction between urban centers and the generation of GHGs and the consequences of climate change on urban centers. Global warming is created by such activities like combustion of fossil fuels and land use changes with wide ranging consequences to our urban centers. Although, Climate change is a global issue in its manifestations, global warming is deeply a local issue. It is based on this, that urban centers of different sizes play a major role in the climate change issues. Urban households, industries, and infrastructure are the key sources of greenhouse gases. Urban centers concentrate populations, economic activities and built environment, thus increasing their risk from floods, heat waves, drought and other climate and weather hazards that climate change is expected to aggravate. Aside these risks and vulnerabilities that climate change brings to urban areas, these same urban centers also play pivotal roles in the mitigation and adaptation efforts. Urban centers are hubs of development, sources of innovation and policy responses to reduce greenhouse gases needed to adapt to climate change. It is this combination within urban centers of increased vulnerabilities along with increased opportunities that can generate important synergies for developing new technologies for adaptation and mitigation strategies. This paper contributes to the wealth of knowledge already existing on climate change by specifically looking at the impact of climate change on Nigeria cities. A comprehensive review of literature using electronic and non- electronic databases formed the methodology.