Building Environmental Resilience to Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation in Yobe State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined building environmental resilience to climate change in Yobe State, Nigeria, that assessed mitigation and adaptation strategies by studying rainfall data from Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMET) over a period 40 year while the analysis and field data collection was done in one year (January, 2024 – January, 2025). The research employed both quantitative and qualitative methods and gathered rainfall data from NiMET (1984 – 2024) and on the current state of environmental resilience to climate change in the area. The quantitative methods involved the use of descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation and determined co-efficient of variation (C.V) that ascertained how rainfall fluctuated in the area over the years while the qualitative employed in-depth interviews, focus group discussion, reviewed of literatures and field investigations. The results of rainfall anomaly and variability showed highest co-efficient of variation of 37.40% and 35.20% from 1984-2024 respectively are evidences of the manifestation of climate change in Yobe State. The result equally reveals that the annual rainfall was stable and not fluctuating during the period 2014-2024 around Nguru and during 2004-2013 in Potiskum with the lowest C.V of 22.53% and 6.91% respectively. The findings further revealed mitigation strategies involve sustainable agricultural practices, afforestation and reforestation, improved transportation and renewable energy initiatives. Concurrently, adaptation includes enhancing water management systems, community-based early warning systems, ecosystem restoration, insurance and financial assistance. The study recommends keying into Climate Resilience Framework (CRF), addressing both mitigation and adaptation, can enhance environmental resilience, provides valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders in the development of sustainable and adaptive solutions to climate change in Yobe State and beyond.