Climate Change and Social Conflict in Nigeria's Democracy

Academic Paper from the year 2020 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Region: Africa, University of Port Harcourt (Faculty of Social Sciences), course: Political Science, language: English, abstract: This paper examined the impact of climate change on social conflict in Nigeria by identifying its progenitors and victims; and the roles of stakeholders in addressing the challenges of climate change adaptation and mitigation, especially social conflict. It x-rayed the two causes of climate change and locates the major trigger of social conflicts in Nigeria on the anthropogenic causes. The Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW) and the social conflict theories were used to guide the analytical compass, using the conflict analysis perspective. This paper argued that the exploration, exploitation, refining and utilization of fossil fuels, soil erosion, desertification, environmental degradation, Green House Gas (GHG) emission etc. have negative consequences on the health and safety of the people, the supply chain and their socio-economic well being. The paper recommends democratisation of the people, respect for people's rights, unity, peace and stability of Nigerian democracy to ensure love for one another and unity of purpose for all. It also advocated the use of environmental impact assessment in the evaluation of projects by multinational corporations in Nigeria. The relationship between climate change and social conflict should be advocated by political elite in Nigerian democracy.

I am Ebenezer Leo the Great Ph.D. I hail from Ula-upata town Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. I hold a Ph.D in Political Science from the University of Port-Harcourt in Rivers State, specialsing in Comparative/ Nigerian Government and Politics. Currently, I am a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Federal College of Education Technical Omoku Rivers state Nigeria. I teach Political Economy, Political Research Methods, Comparative Government and Politics, Constitutional Development in West Africa, Social Sciences, Issues in Peace and Conflict Resolution studies, Local Government Administration etc. to undergraduate students. I am into full time teaching, research and mentorship. I have published over ten journal articles in local journals (hard copies) and contributed chapter papers in books. I have written three books too. My Ph.D research was on "Political Accountability and Voter Turnout in Nigeria's Elections (1999-2015)". I am currently seeking funding to update the research from 2019 to 2023 elections in Nigeria. My two other ongoing research endeavours will also be published internationally. I fund all my researches, conferences and professional bodies' registrations personally. But I am determined as a young scholar to excel if given the opportunity to prove myself and help address socio-economic and political issues academically. Presently, I am a member of the International Political Science Association (IPSA), Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA); Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) and Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). I have spent the past ten years in the university system in administration, teaching, research, project supervision, mentorship and general support services. I love education especially quality and sustainable education in the school system for societal socio-economic and political development. Presently, I am the Project Coordinator of the Global Coalition Against Examination Malpractice in Africa (GCAEMA) project aimed at revamping the reading culture, curbing examination malpractice and promoting quality education in the school system in Nigeria and Africa.