Stakeholders’ perspectives on addressing climate change and respiratory health impacts in Nigeria

TL;DR

This study explores how climate change affects respiratory health in Nigerian cities and identifies barriers to addressing these issues through stakeholder discussions.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into sociocultural and financial barriers to climate change mitigation in Nigeria.

Findings

Vulnerable populations include the poor, homeless, pregnant women, children, the elderly, and those with health conditions.

Sociocultural beliefs that climate change is divine or spiritual hinder mitigation efforts.

Financial constraints are a major barrier to adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Abstract

The impacts of climate change on respiratory health are increasingly becoming a significant challenge in Nigerian cities, particularly in Lagos and Ogun States. Engaging stakeholders in discussions about climate change and health is crucial for addressing these challenges. The climate change and respiratory health (C2Rest) Nigeria Study team facilitated a stakeholder engagement to discuss climate change and health impacts in Nigeria, aiming to explore feasible solutions relevant to research, policy, and practice. A stakeholder meeting was conducted on April 23rd, 2024, involving participants from Lagos and Ogun States. The framework for the activities was adapted from Gardner´s climate change engagement pathways, which examine key drivers (8 questions), barriers (7 questions), and adaptation pathways (3 questions). Data were collected through note-taking, written contributions, audio and video recording, and subsequently transcribed and analysed thematically. A total of 42 registered participants, comprising government officials, academicians, healthcare professionals, community and religious leaders, attended the stakeholder engagement meeting. Participants made group presentations and submitted a total of 380 written contributions. There were varying views on the drivers of climate change, but there was consensus that the most vulnerable populations include the poor, homeless, pregnant women, children, the elderly, and individuals with underlying health conditions. An important barrier identified was the sociocultural belief that climate change is an act of God or spirits. Financial constraints were a recurrent theme in discussions about mitigation and adaptation to climate change. This report provides valuable information on the most vulnerable population to the effects of climate change in Nigeria and identifies sociocultural beliefs and financial constraints as key barriers to the adoption of effective mitigation and adaptation behaviors.