Climate Change: Implications and Adaptations by Rural Ogba Communities in Rivers State of Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examined climate change, its implications and adaptations among rural Ogba communities. Climate change is an ongoing change and process in the geophysical, biochemical and structural statics of the earth caused by the effects of naturally occurring events or the activities of man. Naturally the earth is under the effects of changing earth Pressure, mass (Volume), and Temperature so called the PVT equation. The consequences of these changes include increasing radiation and heat, de-glaciations, flooding, ecosystem disruptions, geo-structural changes, volcanic activities etc. that negatively impact on the environment, human health and development. Man has equally responded to these changes based on available capacity and technology. For methodology, this paper adopted the qualitative approach of review and discussions of relevant literatures. Study adopted climate change effects as a system concept with varied cause and effect implications. Field visits and open focal point discussions was conducted with native Ogba people. Climate change in Ogba land is real and the people have long practised adaptation strategies in responding to it in the areas of flooding, deforestation, pollution and waste management. The coming of oil/gas companies into Ogba communities in 1962 changed the game and introduced large scale pollution and ecosystem degradations. Findings indicated a declining interest on matters of eco-sustainability and accountability among indigenous Ogba people. The dynamics and effects of climate change have however overwhelmed local capacity. Paper recommends adequate capacity building of the population through technical and environmental education; local economy improvement and empowerment; relevant impact assessments/studies, geographic information mapping and impact remediation action plan; political, corporate and technical support for a green revolution, and assurance of an integrated sustainable development framework to tackle the gregarious issues of climate change.