FOR FREE PROJECT TOPICS AND A COMPREHENSIVE MATERIALS OF CHAPTER 1-5



E.G

EFFECT OF GLOBALIZATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN NIGERIA


CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Considering climate change and globalization together as a research topic can illuminate the structures and processes of both. Globalization and climate change theories can be categorized as economic, political, and cultural on one dimension, and on another dimension as emphasizing the conflicts between the global and national/local levels, the dominance of the global, or the hybrids and pastiches created by mixing the global and local. Climate change, as an issue that creates and is created by a global sense of the world, is bound up in both its analysis and its policy proposals with the same issues that confront globalization theorists. The proliferation of theories and analyses in globalization and climate change reflects the emerging nature of both areas of social scientific thought. Activities and “flows” are changing too rapidly to be satisfactorily categorized and mapped. Moreover, there are no clear advantages to one form of action, since all phenomena are multifaceted, with bundled positive, neutral, and negative characteristics. However, the very explosion of ideas and proposals reflects the energy and willingness to seek future directions that will bring increased well-being for both humans and the environment.
It has become common knowledge that the poor are likely to be worse hit by climate change, and that capacity to respond to climate change is lower in developing countries and among the poorest people in those countries (Almos, July, 2001).Global Warming or Climate Change is a measurable increase in the average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and landmasses. Scientists believe Earth is currently facing a period of rapid warming brought on by rising levels of heat-trapping gases, known as Greenhouse gases, in the atmosphere (Mastrandrea, and Schneider, 2008).
Greenhouse gases retain the radiant energy (heat) provided to earth by the Sun in a process known as the ‘Greenhouse ‘effect’. Greenhouse gases occur naturally, and without them the planet would be too cold to sustain life. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the mid-1700s, however, human activities have added more and more of these gases into the atmosphere. For example, levels of Carbon Dioxide, a powerful greenhouse gas, have risen by 35 percent since 1750, largely from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas(Mastrandrea, and Schneider, 2008). With more Greenhouse gases in the mix, the atmosphere acts like a thickening blanket and traps more heat.
Climate change or global warming has become a new reality, with deleterious effects: seasonal cycles are disrupted, as are ecosystems; and agriculture, water needs and supply, and food production are all adversely affected. Global warming (climate change) also leads to sea-level rise with its attendant consequences, and includes fiercer weather, increased frequency and intensity of storms, floods, hurricanes, droughts, increased frequency of fires, poverty, malnutrition and series of health and socio-economic consequences. It has a cumulative effect on natural resources and the balance of nature (BNRCC, 2008).
The impact of climate change in this era of globalization can be vast. In Nigeria, this means that some stable ecosystems such as the Sahel Savanna may become vulnerable because warming will reinforce existing patterns of water scarcity and increasing the risk of drought in Nigeria and indeed most countries in West Africa. As well, the country’s aquatic ecosystems, wetlands and other habitats will create overwhelming problems for an already impoverished populace.
Preliminary studies on the vulnerability of various sectors of the Nigerian economy to Climate Change were conducted by the Nigerian Environmental Study Action Team (NEST). The sectors evaluated were based on seven natural and human systems identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC), and condensed into five. They are:
a. Human settlements and health;
b. Water resources, wetlands, and freshwater ecosystems;
c. Energy, industry, commerce, and financial services;
d. Agriculture, food security, land degradation, forestry, and biodiversity; and
e. Coastal zone and marine ecosystems (BNRCC, 2008).
The study determined that virtually all of the sectors analyzed manifested some evidence of vulnerability to climate change. None were unaffected, nor will remain unaffected in future by changes to climatic conditions (IPCC, 2007). In fact more recent assessment, although in regional and global scale, not only corroborate the patterns established by CN-CCCDP reports but captured more disturbing scenarios using more embracingand sophisticated approaches. Indications are that the climate system is more sensitive than originally thought.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
The problem associated with Global Warming or Climate Change is diverse. As stated in the background to the study, these problems began in the seventeen hundreds during the industrial revolution. The amount of carbon dioxide produced by human activities during this period, affected the Green house and scientist have stated that the Carbon Dioxide produced by human activities has already reached a degree of 35% increase of heat to the Green house since the 1700s. In Nigeria, the effects of climate change on the economy would mean that some stable ecosystems such as the Sahel Savanna are in danger because warming will strengthen existing patterns of water scarcity leading to drought in Nigeria. Moreover, the aquatic ecosystems in Nigeria, the wetlands and other habitats will create overwhelming problems for the poor masses who are not equipped to survive in harsh conditions like this. The vulnerability that Climate Change has placed on the Nigerian economy and people has been evaluated in five areas which are: Human settlements and health; Water resources, wetlands, and freshwater ecosystems, Energy, industry, commerce, and financial services; Agriculture, food security, land degradation, forestry, and biodiversity; and Coastal zone and marine ecosystems. It is quite unfortunate that globalization which favours the rich countries more than the poor has rather contributed to the challenges faced by developing economies like Nigeria. Thus, this research study places emphasis on these areas in order to examine the effects of globalization and Climate Change on Nigerian economy today, identify and tackle the causes of these problems.

1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objective of this study is to examine the effects of globalization on Climate Change in Nigeria. Other objectives are:
a. To examine the level of vulnerability that Climate Change has placed on Nigerian ecosystem
b. To examine the ways by which human activities around the world has affected the Nigerian climate
c. To proffer solutions to the adverse effects of Climate Change in the world

1.4 THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS
This study is geared towards examining the following preposition:
i. What impact has globalization on climate change in Nigeria?
ii. What are the natural causes of Climate Change?
iii. How has human activities contributed to climate change in the world?
iv. In what ways have these changes in the climate affected Nigeria’s economic development?
v. What could be done to drastically reduce the contribution of human activities to climate changes in order to reduce the harshly conditions they have placed on the poor around the world especially in Nigeria?

1.5 SCOPE AND THE LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This study focuses on the impact of climate change in Nigeria. So the research work covers only Nigeria.
And availability of materials as a source of data was another limitation of the study, as there was no easy access to materials. Financial and time constraint were also limitations of the study, as the research had to manage studies with the research of this project work.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study remains imperative and its relevance cannot be overemphasized. It provides an insight into the effects of globalization on climate change and the adverse effect of these changes in Nigeria. The study also serves as a source of data for further research developments and help policy makers make decisive decisions in finding solutions for a drastic reduction of the effects of climate change in the world.