Abstract
Climate change is a worldwide environmental phenomenon that needs urgent attention by minimizing the impacts through different adaptation processes particularly in developing countries (DCs). This paper exposes some climate change challenges facing developing countries in the twenty-first century. It provides a brief insight into the main factors that predispose Nigeria to the adverse effects of climate change and gives an overview of potential impact of climate change in the Nigeria’s Niger Delta region. The paper attempts to justify the need for developing climate change adaptation polices in the region and calls for mainstreaming climate change and adaptation in development plans and programs. The need for adaptation planning through sustainable urban development is also discussed. The paper suggests possible measures to tackle the challenging risks posed by climate variability and change in the area, such measures may be through the application of appropriate legal frameworks. The legal framework as an adaptation measure will encourage the robust implementation of climate change policies in the area. It will further strengthen decision-making related to the implementation of relevant adaptation plans and programs (PPPs). By establishing appropriate legal and institutional frameworks, a win-win approach geared towards climate change adaptation and mitigation will be achieved in tandem. This can also help in achieving the focal dimensions of sustainable development—socioeconomic development, the conservation of the environment and natural resource base, as well as human well being. Thus, the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will be reinforced in Nigeria and, especially in the Niger Delta region.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adebanji A (2010) Environmental and resource conflicts in the Niger delta: an impediment to Nigeria’s transition to the green economy. In: ‘IAIA10 conference proceedings’ the role of impact assessment in transitioning to the green economy, International Conference Centre Geneva, Switzerland, pp 1–5
Adger WN (2001) Social capital and climate change. Tyndall Centre Working Paper 8, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and CSWEGE School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia, p 19
Agwu EIC, Ezedike CE, Egbu AU (eds) (2000) The concept and procedure of environmental impact assessment. Crystal, Owerri, pp 93–97
Albrecht E (2005) Legal context of the SEA directive-links with other legislation and key procedures. In: Schmidt M et al (eds) Implementing strategic environmental assessment, vol 2, Environmental protection in the European Union. Springer, New York, pp 31–53
Awosika LF, French GT, Nicholla RJ, Ibe CE (1992) The impact of sea level rise on the coastline of Nigeria. In: Proceedings of IPCC symposium on the rising challenges of the sea, Venezuela, pp 14–19
Bajracharya B, Childs I, Hastings P (2011) Climate change adaptation through land use planning and disaster management: local government perspectives from Queensland. In: 17th Pacific Rim Real Estate Society conference climate change and property: its impact now and later, Gold Coast, 16–19 Jan 2011, pp 4–5
Beg N, Morlot JC, Davidson O, Afrane-Okesse Y, Tyani L, Denton F, Sokona Y, Thomas JP, La Rovere EL, Parikh KJ, Parikh K, Rahman AA (2002) Climate policy: linkages between climate and sustainable development. In: Climate policy 2, OECD/IEA, Paris, pp 129–144
Berry PM, Paterson J, Cabeza M, Dubuis A, Guisan A, Jaattela L, Kuhm I, Musche M, Piper J, Wilson E (2008) Adaptation and mitigation measures and their impacts on biodiversity. In: MACIS. Minimization of and adaptation to climate change impacts on biodiversity
Bidwai P (2012) The politics of climate change and the global crisis: mortgaging our future. Orient Blackswan, New Delhi
Blakely EJ (2007) Urban planning for climate change. Working paper, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. https://www.lincolninst.edu/pubs/dl/1310_Blakely%20Final.pdf. Last accessed 27 Nov 2011
Building Nigeria Response to Climate Change – BNRCC (2010) Local action on climate change: BNRCC’s Quarterly News Letter October 2010. BNRCC, Ibadan, Nigeria, pp 1–12
Collingwood (2011) Climate change adaptation capability statement. Collingwood Environmental Planning, London, http://www.cep.co.uk/files/Download/CEP%20Climate%20Change%20Adaptation%20Capability%20Statement%2023_02_11.pdf. Last accessed 15 Nov 2011
Cote M (2011) Climate adaptation planning: anticipating the legal issues for urban planners. Int J Clim Change Impacts Responses 2(3):80–102
Dadiowei T (2009) Environmental impact assessment and sustainable development in the Niger Delta: the Gbarain oil field experience. Niger Delta Economies of Violence Working paper no. 24, pp 1–50
DEAT (2004) Strategic environmental assessment, integrated environmental management, Information series 10, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), Pretoria, pp 4–7
Doswald N, Osti M (2011) Ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation and mitigation – good practice examples and lessons learned in Europe. Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Bonn, Germany, pp 3–4
Duru P, Ume N (2008) Climate change and the incidence of malaria in Ahiazu Mbaise, Imo State. In: Nwajiuba C (ed) Climate change and adaptation in Nigeria. Margraf, Weikersheim, pp 95–100
Eckert R, Waibel M (2009) Climate change and challenges for urban development of Ho Chi Minh City/Vietnam. Pacific News January/February, No 31, pp 18–20
Ekpoh IJ (2010) Adaptation to the impact of climate variations on agriculture by rural farmers in North-Western Nigeria. J Sustain Dev 3(4):194–202
El Sioufi M (2010) Climate and sustainable cities: major challenges facing cities and urban settlements in the coming decades. International Federation of Surveyors, United Nations Habitat, Kenya, pp 1–2
Etuonovbe AK (2007) Coastal settlement and climate changes: effects of climate change/sea level rise on the People of Awoye in Ondo State Nigeria. Economic benefits of hydrography. Strategic integration of surveying services FIG working week 2007, Hong Kong SAR, China, pp 1–14
Ezegbule E (2008) Forestry development and the challenge of climate change in Nigeria, Nigeria Environmental Study/Team Action Team (NEST) Ibadan, Nigeria. In: Nwajiuba C (ed) Climate change and adaptation in Nigeria. Margraf, Weikersheim, pp 7–14
Federal Republic of Nigeria (1992a) Environmental Impact Assessment Decree (No. 86), Gazette 79 (73)
Federal Republic of Nigeria (1992b) Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Decree (No. 88), Gazette 79 (75)
FMEAN (2010) National environmental, economic and development study (NEEDs) for climate change in Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Environment Abuja, Nigeria (Special Climate Change Unit), pp 1–20
Gauthier M, Simard L (2009) Public participation in strategic environmental assessment (SEA): critical Quebec approach. In: Environmental Evaluators Network Forum, Conferences Centre, Ottawa, pp 1–13
Giddens A (2009) The politics of climate change. Polity, Cambridge, pp 176–181
Gupta KR (2004) Urban development debates in the new millennium studies in revisited theories and redefined praxes, vol 1. Atlantic, New Delhi, pp 19–21
Han M (1989) Global warming induced sea level rise in China: response and strategies. Presentation to world conference on preparing for climate change, Cairo, Egypt, December 19
Humpreys S (1998) ‘Equity in the CDM’ Dakar. In: Masika R (ed) Gender, development and climate change. Oxfarm, Oxford, pp 1–9
International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) (2007) Climate change and cities: adapting to climate change in urban areas: the possibilities and constraints in low-and middle-income nations. Human settlement discussion paper series, pp 1–10
International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) (2011) Capacity strengthening in least developed countries for adaptation to climate change (CLACC) cities studies. International Institute for Environment and Development. http://www.iied.org/climate-change/key-issues/adapting-cities/capacity-strengthening-least-developed-countries-for-adapt. Last accessed 14 Nov 2011
IPCC (1990) Potential impacts of climate change: human settlement; energy, transport and industrial sectors; human health, air quality and changes in ultraviolet B-radiation. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Working Group II (A. Izrael Chair) Geneva WMO/unep, p 34
IPCC (2001a) Climate change 2001: the scientific basis: contribution of Working Group I to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, New York, pp 1–99
IPCC (2001b) IPCC Third Assessment Report: climate changes 2001 summary for policy makers. http://www.ipcc.ch. Last accessed 28 Aug 2011
IPCC (2001c) Climate change 2001: Working Group II: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcctar/wg2/index.htm. Last accessed 10 Nov 2011
IPCC (2001d) Special report on emission scenarios. A special report of Working Group 111. WMO, UNEP, USA, p 26
IPCC (2007) Climate change 2007 – impacts, adaptation and vulnerability: contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC
Irvine J (2008) A changing climate for urban design: an examination of the New Zealand regulatory approach. New Zeal J Environ Law 12:277–313
Kennedy KS, Twilley RR, Kleypas JA, Cowam JH Jr, Hare SR (2002) Coastal and marine ecosystems and global climate change: potential effects on U.S. resource. Pew Center, Arlington, VA, pp 1–41
Klein JTR, Schipper ELF, Suraje D (2005) Mitigation and adaptation into climate and development policy: three research questions. Environ Sci Pol 8:579–588
Kong L, Yuen B (2009) Climate change and urban planning in Southeast Asia. SAPIENS 2(3):1–12, http://sapiens.revues.org/881. Last accessed 14 Nov 2011
Luterbacher U, Sprinz D (eds) (2001) International relations and global climate change. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, pp 5–6
Lwasa S (2010) Adapting urban areas in Africa to climate change: the case of Kampala. Curr Opin Environ Sustain 2:166–171
Manley P (2008) Biodiversity and climate change (May 20, 2008). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Climate Change Resource Center. http://www.fs.fed.us/ccrc/topics/biodiversity.shtml. Last accessed 24 May 2012
Masika R (ed) (2002) Gender, development and climate change. Oxfam, Oxford, pp 14–30
McEvoy D, Lindley S, Handley J (2006) Adaptation and mitigation in urban areas: synergies and conflicts. Proc Inst of Civ Eng Municip Eng 159:185–191
McMichael AJ, Lindgren E (2011) Climate change: present and future risk to health, and necessary response. Intern Med 270(5):401–413
McMichael C, Boarnett J, McMichael AJ (2012) An III wind? Climate change, migration, and health. Environ Health Perspect 120(5):647–653
Munonye J, Okoli V, Nwajiuba CU (2008) Rainfall variability and arable crop production in the humid South of Nigeria. In: Nwajiuba C (ed) Climate change and adaptation in Nigeria. Margraf, Weikersheim, pp 45–52
NASPA (2010) Developing Nigeria’s Climate Change Adaptation Response: Nigeria’s 2010 National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action (NASPA). http://www.naspanigeria.org/docs/NASPA_BkgrndDoc.pdf, pp 1–9. Last accessed 11 Nov 2011
Nigeria Environmental Study Action Team (NEST) (2010) Local action on climate change: BNRCC’s Quarterly Newsletter, pp 1–15
Nishioka S, Harasawa H (eds) (1998) Global warming: the potential impact on Japan. Springer, Tokyo, pp 3–8
Nwajiuba C (2008) Adapting to climate change: challenges and opportunities. In: Nwajiuba C (ed) Climate change and adaptation in Nigeria. Margraf, Weikersheim, pp 1–6
O’Brien KL, Leichenko RM (2000) Double exposure: assessing the impacts of climate change within the context of economic globalization. Global Environ Change 10:221–232
OECD (2010) Strategic environmental assessment and adaptation to climate change. DAC Network on Environment and Development Co-Operation (ENVIRONET) Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris, pp 9–10
Ogba CO, Utang PB (2007) Vulnerability and adaptation of Nigeria’s Niger Delta coast settlements to sea level rise. Strategic integration of surveying services FIG working week 2007, Hong Kong SAR, China, 13–17 May 2007, pp 1–15
Ogbuehi H, Onuh M, Ohazurike N (2008) Consequences of climate change on physiological processes in agricultural production. In: Nwajiuba C (ed) Climate change and adaptation in Nigeria. Margraf, Weikersheim, pp 17–27
Oku HB (2003) The Niger Delta environment, its local geography. Prelyn, Port Harcourt, pp 153–166
Oladipo E (2010) Towards enhancing the adaptive capacity of Nigeria: a review of the countries state of preparedness for climate change adaptation. A report submitted to Heinrich Böll Foundation Nigeria, Ilorin, Kwara State, pp 1–43
Onyenechere E (2010) Climate change and spatial planning concerns in Nigeria: remedial measure for more effective response. J Hum Ecol 32(3):137–148
Onyenechere E, Igbozurike U (2008) Women crop farmers’ adaptation to rainfall variability and climate change in Amaraku Community, Imo State, Nigeria. In: Nwajiuba C (ed) Climate change and adaptation in Nigeria. Margraf, Weikersheim, pp 65–72
Orindi V, Murray L (2005) Adapting to climate change in East Africa: a strategic approach, Gatekeeper series 117. IIED, London, pp 1–16
Parmesan C, Yohe G (2003) A globally coherent fingerprint of climate change impacts across natural system. Nature 421:37–42
Perlmutter DD, Rothstein RL (2011) The challenge of climate change: which way now? Wiley, Chichester, UK, pp 189–218
Phil-Eze PO, Okoro IC (2009) Sustainable biodiversity conservation in the Niger Delta: a practical approach to conservation site selection. Biodivers Conserv 18:1247–1257
Ravindranath NH, Sathaye JA (2002) Climate change and developing countries: advances in global change research. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 80–82
Reid H, Ampomah G, Olazábal Prera MI, Rabbani G, Zvigadza S (2012) Southern voices on climate policy choices: analysis of and lessons learned from Civil Society Advocacy on Climate Change. International Institute for Environment and Development, London, pp 20, 38
Remme U, Blesl M (2008) A global perspective to achieve a low-carbon society (LCS): scenario analysis with the ETSAP-TIAM model. Clim Change Policy 8:60–75
Rose NA, Burton PJ (2009) Using bioclimatic envelopes to identify temporal corridors in support of conservation planning in a changing climate. Forest Ecol Manag 258:64–74
Schmidt M, Palekhov D, Atkinson R (2010) Environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment. Learning materials. BTU Eigenverlag, Cottbus, pp 93–113
Secretariat of the CBD (2002) Vorläufige Leitlinie für die Einbeziehung von Biodiversitätsaspekten in die Gesetzgebung und/oder das Verfahren von Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfung und Strategischer Umweltprüfung. In: Beschluss VI/7A) der Vertragparteien des Übereinkommens über die biologische Vielfalt auf ihrem sechsten Treffen, Den Haag, 7–19 Apr 2002
Shaw R, Colley M, Connell R (2007) Climate change adaptation by design: a guide for sustainable communities. TCPA, London, pp 17–41
Smit B, Burto I, Klein RJT, Wandel J (2000) The anatomy of adaptation to climate change and variability. Clim Change 45:223–251
Tearfund (2006) Overcoming barriers: mainstreaming climate change adaptation in developing countries. Climate change briefing paper 1, Tearfund, Teddington, pp 3–24
Thom B, Crane J, Cox R, Farrell C, Hayes P, Kay R, Kearns A, Low Choy D (2007) Planning for a Sustainable Future: UK Department of Communities and Local Government. United Kingdom Government white paper, London
Ugochukwu CNC (2008) Sustainable environmental management in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria: effects of hydrocarbon pollution on local economy. PhD dissertation, Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus, vol 7, pp 136–153
UK Department for International Development (DFID) (2009) Impact of climate change on Nigeria’s economy, pp 1–3
UK Parliament Publications (2006) Adapting to climate change in developing countries. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology: Postnote October 2006, no. 269, pp 1–4. http://www.parliament.uk/post. Last accessed 24 May 2012
UNCAPSA (2007) United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific: Background paper on Drought and Assessment of Asian and Pacific progress. ESD/RIM/2007/INF.4, pp 5–6. http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd16/rim/escap_drought.pdf. Last accessed 7 Nov 2011
UN-DESA (2009) World economic and social survey 2009: promoting development, saving the planet. United Nations, New York, pp 1–56
UNEP (2004) Environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment: towards an integrated approach, Geneva, vol 5, pp 85–109. http://www.unep.ch/etu/publications/textONUbr.pdf. Last accessed 28 Oct 2011
UNEP/CMS (2006) Migratory species and climate change: impacts of changing environment on wild animals. United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS), pp 8–60
UNEP/GRID-Arendal (2011) The regional impacts of climate change: African Coastal Zones – IPCC special reports on climate change. http://www.grida.no/publications/other/ipcc_sr/?src=/climate/ipcc/regional/030.htm. Last accessed 27 Nov 2011
UNFCCC (2009) Fact sheet: need for mitigation, pp 1–7. http://unfccc.int/files/press/backgrounders/application/pdf/press_factsh_mitigation.pdf. Last accessed 7 Nov 2011
UNFCCC (2011) Climate change: impacts vulnerabilities and adaptation in developing countries, pp 8–81. http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/publications/impacts.pdf. Last accessed 5 Nov 2011
UN-Habitat (2007) UN HABITAT pitches for urban planning, Bonn. http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=4836&catid=550&typeid=6&subMenuId=0. Last accessed 14 Nov 2011
UN-Habitat (2009a) Planning sustainable cities: global report on human settlements. United Nation Human Settlements Program. Earthscans, London, pp 46–47
UN-Habitat (2009b) Cities and Climate Change Initiative. Launch Conference Report, Oslo. http://www.unchs.org/downloads/docs/6520_35892_OSLO%20Report.pdf. Last accessed 27 Aug 2011
Urama KC, Ozor N (2010) Impacts of climate change on water resources in Africa. The role of adaptation. African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS), pp 1–22
Uyigue E, Agho M (2007) Coping with climate change and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta of Southern Nigeria. Community Research Development Center (CREDC), Edo State, Nigeria, pp 1–31
WHO (2007) Global climate change: implications for international public health policy. Bull World Health Organ 85(3):161–244
Wiegleb G, Bröring U (2005) Biodiversity programmes on global, European and national levels related to SEA. In: Schmidt M et al (eds) Implementing strategic environment assessment, vol 2, Environmental protection in the European Union. Springer, New York, pp 539–553
Wilson E (2006) Adapting to climate change at the local level: the spatial planning response. Local Environ 11(6):609–625
World Bank (2010) Economics of adaptation to climate change: Bangladesh, pp 1–86. http://climatechange.worldbank.org/sites/default/files/documents/EACC_Bangladesh.pdf. Last accessed 9 Nov 2011
World Bank (2008) World Bank development report: agriculture for development. World Bank, Washington, DC
Yakubu AF, Sikoki FD, Horsefall M Jr (1998) An investigation into the physicochemical conditions and planktonic organisms of the lower reaches of the Nun River, Nigeria. JASEM 1(1):36–42
Yates CJ, Elith J, Latimer AN, Le Maiter D, Midgley GF, Schurr FM, West AG (2009) Projecting climate change impacts on species distributions in mega-diverse South African regions: opportunities and challenges. Ecol Soc Austr 35:374–391
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ogbonna, C.U. (2014). Adaptation to Climate Change in Developing Countries: A Need in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. In: Albrecht, E., Schmidt, M., Mißler-Behr, M., Spyra, S. (eds) Implementing Adaptation Strategies by Legal, Economic and Planning Instruments on Climate Change. Environmental Protection in the European Union, vol 4. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-77614-7_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-77614-7_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-77613-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-77614-7
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)