Adaptation to Climate Change in Developing Countries: A Need in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria
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 develo
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Adaptation to Climate Change in Developing Countries: A Need in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria Chika Ubaldus Ogbonna
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Introduction
Climate change is a worldwide environmental phenomenon that needs urgent attention by minimizing the impacts through different adaptation processes particularly in developing countries (DCs). The global climate is subject to increasing change, and this has become more evident over recent years (Humpreys 1998; IPCC 2001a; Masika 2002; McMichael and Lindgren 2011; McMichael et al. 2012). In particular, the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased, augmenting global warming. According to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) these concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are higher now than at any time during the last thousand years, and the weight of scientific evidence suggests that observed changes in the earth’s climate are at least in part due to human activities (IPCC 2001b; Remme and Blesl 2008; Bidwai 2012). According to the IPCC third Assessment report the global average atmospheric temperature rose 0.6 0.2 C (1.1 0.4 F) in the twentieth century. The report further projected that global temperature will increase between 1.4 and 5.8 C (2.5–10.5 F) between 1990 and 2100. This projection was based on the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios. A recent report of the United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) states that the best estimates indicate that the Earth could warm by 3 C by 2100 (UNFCCC 2011). Estimates on how fast global warming will occur are necessary to assess the future climate change and take measures against any adverse effect (Nishioka and Harasawa 1998). O’Brien and Leichenko (2000) noted that scientists and policy makers have become embroiled in extensive debates about potential changes brought about by C.U. Ogbonna (*) Department for Civil Law and Public Law with References to the Law of Europe and the Environment, Faculty for Environmental Sciences and Process Engineering, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Erich-Weinert-Str. 1, Cottbus, Germany e-mail: [email protected] E. Albrecht et al. (eds.), Implementing Adaptation Strategies by Legal, Economic and Planning Instruments on Climate Change, Environmental Protection in the European Union 4, DOI 10.1007/978-3-540-77614-7_10, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014
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an increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions along with strategies for mitigation and adaptation. However, the UNFCCC has already identified two ways to address climate change: first through mitigation of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing sinks and secondly through adaptation to the impacts of climate change. Mitigation comprises all human activities aimed at reducing the emissions or enhancing the sinks of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide (Klein et al. 2005; UNFCCC 2009). Adaptation in the context of climate change refers to any
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