CLIMATE

This paper documents an investigation of the impact of climate change on global and regional water resources in Nigeria using Egor local government area as case study. The aim of this study is to comprehensively examine the impacts of climate change on water demand in Nigeria, and to understand specific challenges that climatic changes cause to our water as well as recommending adaptive strategies for sustainable water resource management. Primary climatic data (Rainfall and Temperature) for Nigeria were collected from the Nigeria Meteorological Station, Lagos between 1960 and 2002. Changes in Lake Chad waters were collected from the National Centre for Remote Sensing (NCRS), Jos. World temperature and water resources data were collected from different sources. The data were analysed using percentages and time series among others. The result shows that the atmospheric concentration of most greenhouse gases (GHGs) is increasing and this has resulted to changing global climate with increasing temperature. The rise in global average temperatures since 1860 now exceeds 0.6℃. The effect of the Green House Gas concentration on global warming as at 2100 is estimated by three scenarios to be 1.5℃ (Low), 2.5℃ (Middle) and 4.5℃ (High). In Nigeria, while rainfall has decreased by 92 mm, temperature increased by 0.8℃ since 1960. This has led to increasing evapotranspiration and water stress resulting in the drying up of rivers and lakes. For example, Lake Chad has reduced in size from 22902 km2 in 1963 to 16884 km2 in 1972 and 304 km2 in 2000. While climate change will make some countries to experience increase in water resources, majority will face serious water stress. Based on projection, by the 2080s, most countries in the Middle East, around the Mediterranean, part of Europe, North and South Africa will face acute water stress while Southern and Eastern Asia, U.S.A. and Alaska will experience reduction in water stress. Some recommendations were made to reverse this ugly situation.

Climate change has become a significant global threat in the 21st century. This has led to various crises, including irregular precipitation patterns, flooding, melting ice caps, and droughts. These changes are driven by both natural factors and human activities such as greenhouse gas emissions, changes in Earth’s orbit, fossil fuel combustion, and tectonic movements. One of the most critical impacts of climate change is the water supply crisis. This study aim to assess how climate change influences the sustainability of water supply in Agenebode. Data was collected by distribution of one hundred and fifty hard-copy Likert-scale questionnaires to respondents and analyzed using descriptive and correlation statistics through the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The result shows that there is minimal vulnerability of water supply to climate change, the people do not behave in a way to cope with the impact of climate change, socioeconomic and cultural factor have less influence on domestic water consumption patterns and sustainability and there is little challenges in implementing sustainable water management practices. Therefore, it is seen that the people in the study area have minimal challenges in sustaining domestic water supply in a changing climate. it is recommended that the promotion of climate-resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding floods and droughts is essential for sustainable water management in vulnerable communities