The Need for Improved Climate Change Literacy

Globally, climate change has affected individuals, communities and nations in various harmful ways. A result of these numerous effects has been the move towards climate action by world leaders, organisations and development agencies. However, climate change literacy among populations must be considered for this movement to be effectively implemented. For Nigeria to develop and implement policies and initiatives that support global climate action goals, there is a need for improved climate change literacy.

According to the United Nations (UN), climate change is the long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns that may occur naturally through variations in the solar cycle. However, since the 1800s, anthropogenic activities have significantly contributed to climate change. Some of these activities, primarily burning fossil fuels, lead to releasing greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, trap heat and cause global warming, leading to flooding, droughts, famine, etc.

The aforementioned effects of climate change are evident in the world today. According to the UN, global surface temperature has increased faster since 1970 than in any other 50-year period in the last 2000 years. In addition, temperatures are expected to rise by as much as 4.4℃ by the end of the century.

Although global, the effects of climate change tend to affect the most vulnerable populations more than others. Most of these populations are found in the global south. According to the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), about 80 per cent of the world’s population lives in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia, where farming households are disproportionately poor. Hence, situations such as flooding and drought lead to displacements and affect livelihoods and general well-being. Being in Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria is not exempt from these climate change effects. However, for the country’s climate action efforts to be successful, there is a need for improved climate change literacy.

According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Africa has an average national climate change literacy rate of 37 per cent. This is a significantly low value compared to continents like Europe and North America, where average national climate change literacy rates are estimated to be over 80 per cent. Although, in African countries, more considerable variations exist at sub-national levels, with the average range between the highest and lowest rates being about 33 per cent.

In Nigeria, the climate change literacy rate ranges from 5 per cent in Kano to 71 per cent in Kwara. Also, climate change literacy in the country is determined by factors such as education and poverty. Gender, which is a major determinant of who gets access to education in some parts of the country, plays a huge role in climate change awareness. In Africa, at the country level, it is estimated that climate change literacy rates are 12.8 per cent lower for women than men.

There is a considerable need for improved climate change literacy in Nigeria, especially as the country aims to meet its decarbonisation goals and implement its Energy Transition Plan (ETP). In addition, climate change literacy will help boost education, urbanisation, gender equality and sustainable economic development. Furthermore, improved climate change awareness will help the country contribute its quota to global climate action efforts while helping low-income communities and marginalised groups become less vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Enlightenment is the bedrock of any global action. As such, efforts towards climate action by any country should not be restricted to the development of initiatives without the populace’s basic understanding of why these policies should be implemented. With the global community, especially vulnerable populations, currently experiencing the effects of climate change, individuals must understand how climate action can help through improved climate change literacy.