Access to Climate Change Messages and Adaptation Practices among Residents of Selected Communities in Anambra State
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Abstract
Climate change poses significant risks to Nigerian communities, and various stakeholders provide information to encourage people to adopt preventive and adaptive practices. This study examined access to climate change messages and adaptation practices among residents of selected communities in Anambra State. The study adopted a survey research design. The population comprised residents of selected communities in Anambra State, from which 160 respondents were purposively selected from Agu Awka, Ifite Awka, Fegge and Woliwo communities. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using frequency, percentage and mean scores, with a mean benchmark of 3.00 for decision-making. Findings showed that exposure to climate change messages was moderate and issue-specific, with a grand mean of 3.04. Exposure was highest for flooding (M=3.84), erosion (M=3.78), and poor waste disposal and environmental pollution (M=3.68), while exposure to bush burning (M = 2.38), loss of farmland and declining crop production (M=2.39), and extreme heat (M=2.45) was low. Radio was the dominant channel for accessing climate change information (M=3.94), followed by television (M=3.14) and posters, banners and billboards (M=3.00), while the overall channel-access score was low (grand mean=2.22). Most importantly, perceived utilisation of climate change messages through environmental and adaptation practices was generally low, with a grand mean of 2.65. It recommends shifting climate change communication towards practical, interactive and action-oriented approaches that strengthen residents’ confidence and capacity to undertake appropriate adaptation practices.
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