Climate Change Awareness, Literacy and Mitigation Strategies in Oil Affected Communities of Ogoni LGA, Rivers State Nigeria

Abstract

This study explored the correlation between climate change awareness, literacy, and mitigation strategies in oil-affected communities of Ogoni LGA, Rivers State, Nigeria. In carrying out this study, two hypotheses were formulated in line with the objectives of the study. The correlation research design was adopted for this study. The study population consisted of adults in oil-affected communities of Ogoni LGA, Rivers State. The sample of the study is made up of 418 adult respondents male and female from the research area. This study employed a multi-stage sampling approach involving proportionate and accidental sampling techniques to select a representative sample of adults from the study population. Data for this study were collected using a questionnaire titled Climate Change Mitigation Strategies Questionnaire (CCMSQ). The instrument demonstrated high internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients ranging from 0.85 to 0.91. For data analysis, simple linear regression analyses were utilized. The findings in data analyses indicated that that there is a significant relationship between level of education, awareness of climate change, and adoption of climate change mitigation strategies among adults in oil-affected communities of Ogoni LGA. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that adult education programs in Ogoni LGA should prioritize climate change awareness and mitigation strategies to promote environmental sustainability.