Climate Change and Air Pollution: Implication for Human Health and Environment in Rivers State
- June 5, 2020
- Posted by: RSIS
- Categories: Geography, IJRISS
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue V, May 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186
Climate Change and Air Pollution: Implication for Human Health and Environment in Rivers State
Dr. Ajiere, Susan1, Dr. Nwaerema, Peace2
1Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
2Department of Geography, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Nigeria
I.INTRODUCTION
The importance of sustainability is geared towards development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability to also meet future needs and that is why all nations of the world are finding solutions to reduce the impact of climate change and air pollution in the environment. Climate change and air pollution are very important environmental problems facing nations and cities of the world. Climate change has widespread impacts on human and natural ecosystems across the globe. The US and other nations of the world are experiencing its impact but Africa has been considered to be the world’s most endangered region due to the tender or fragile nature of its ecosystem and economy [1]. Climate change refers to a shift in the state of the climate that can be identified using statistical tests by changes in the mean or the variability of its properties that persists for an extended period typically in number of decades due to natural variability or as a result of human activities [1]. Climate change alters the composition of the global atmosphere over comparable time periods [2]. Thus, climate change describes the current trend toward higher average of global temperatures and accompanying environmental shifts such as rising sea levels and more severe storms, floods, droughts and heat waves [3]. The phenomenon is basically is a statistically observed change in the climatic elements of a country or region over a period of time.
Air Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment. It is the presence of substances or particles in the air that pose danger, damage and disturbance to humans, flora as well as fauna. Air pollution results from degradation of air quality with negative effects on human health and the natural as well as built environment due to the introduction (by natural processes or human activities) into the atmosphere of substances in the form of gases and aerosols which have a direct primary pollutants or indirect secondary pollutants with resultant harmful effect [4].The effects of gases emitted to the atmosphere is a problem that is facing all the nation of the world. Aerosols are known as suspension of airborne solid or liquid particles with a typical size between a few nanometers and 10μm that reside in the atmosphere for at least several hours [5].
