CLIMATE CHANGE AND EMERGING SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES IN NIGERIA

At the dawn of this millennium the phenomenon of climate change took a central stage in both national and international fora of discussions because of its threat to the environment and human survival. It is on this premise this paper intends to examine climate change, global warming and emerging socio-economic consequences in Nigeria. In almost a century now natural events and human activities have contributing to increase in average global temperatures. Human activities are now exerting an unacceptable negative influence the ecosystem is finding it difficult to accommodate for too long. The paper gives an over view of the history of the scientific discoveiy of change, that began in the early 19th century when natural changes in paleoclimate was first suspected and the natural greenhouse effect first identified. The paper further examines the socio-economic consequences of climate change in Nigeria which is accompanied with global warming: these include reduction in agricultural production, reduction in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unemployment amongst others. The paper concludes with some suggestions on how to ameliorate the effect of climate change in the Nigeria society.