MAPPING CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITY IN NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Climate change vulnerability mapping is normally carried out with the aim of pinpointing areas with the conjunction of the highest adverse effects of climate change and people with the lowest capacity to adapt to the effects. Identification of such areas provides ample opportunities for planning climate change adaptation and resilience. The focus of this study is to map climate change vulnerability among the 7 states that comprise the northwest zone of Nigeria. Data on eleven environmental, socio-demographic and economic parameters were collected and used under three vulnerability indicators; exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. GIS was used in creating the maps that portray the indicators and overall vulnerability. Jigawa, Kebbi and Sokoto were the states with the highest exposure, Jigawa, Katsina and Kano had the highest sensitivity and Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi had the lowest adaptive capacity. A conjuncture of these indicates Katsina, Jigawa and Sokoto as the most vulnerable Kebbi and Zamfara as the medium and Kaduna and Kano as the least vulnerable states to climate change in the area. Climate change vulnerability factors are spatially variable in the area, which calls for state-based adaptation and resilience measures in the area. It is recommended that there is a need for early warning systems for extreme climate events as well as solutions to the socio-demographic and economic indicators in the area.