CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The knowledge of climate change has become a contemporary issue to all. According to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2001), the warming of planet earth is largely attributed to increase of green house gases (primarily carbon dioxide and methane) in the earth’s upper atmosphere caused by burning of fossil fuels, industrial and farming activities including deforestation activities. Oladiran (2000) also noted that human activities in most cases caused the change in any part of the structure of the earth and alter the atmospheric composition and climate on global scale. In recent decades, environmental disasters such earthquakes, flooding, death, heat strokes among others which were climate change propelled were recorded across the world. Elize (2007) holds that climate change and environmental change processes lead to changes in bio physical life support system, including land surface, vegetation, water resources, soil and atmosphere which constitute the element support the long term sustainability of life on earth. Ojo and Oladosu (2000) noted that the effect of man’s activities on climate variation was perceived as negligible and so, climate was generally taken for granted and there was little thought that climate could be a problem with severe impact, but today, it affects the very basis of human existence. The incessant flooding, desert encroachment, frequent ocean surge and variation in weather conditions signal the effects of climate change.

Climate change is one of the most important environmental issues facing the world today. This is evidenced by the spate of conferences, campaigns, reports and researches on climate change in the last 20 years (Agenda 21 of Rio declaration, 1992, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2001, Copenhagen, 2009) to mention a few. Presently, there is widespread consensus in the scientific community and even among politicians that climate change is happening and that the impacts are already with us. Climate change is often used to describe any kind of change in climate that may be natural or human- induced (Union of Concerned Scientist UCS, 2002). Climate change according to Ekpoh (2009) is any long-term change in the patterns of average weather of a specific region or the earth as a whole. It is an abnormal variation in the earth's climate that usually occurs over durations ranging from decades to millions of years. Evidence shows that global mean temperature increased by 0.60C during the 20th century, with the 6 hottest years occurring between 1997 and 2007 (IPCC, 2007). This warming of the world's climate has been linked to higher concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere, which are dominantly of anthropogenic origin such as fossil fuel combustion, land use and deforestation. Climate change phenomenon has serious deleterious consequences for the earth in the form of significant variations in regional climates, recurrent droughts, excessive heat waves, windstorms, killer floods, and so on.

Asthana and Asthana (2012) affirm that the impacts of climate change includes unhealthy environment that reduces agricultural productivity, such as crop, animals, fishes. This the scholars say will result in food scarcity, poverty and consequently mal-nutrition, leading to ill health, morbidity and outbreak of infectious diseases, increase in cases of cataract of the eyes, skin diseases and cancers, increase in the growth of insects and pest that is a threat to human health, increase in waterborne disease (typhoid and cholera), airborne diseases such as pneumonia, poliomyelitis, tuberculosis, measles and diphtheria, neonatal tetanus and pertussis. Litus (2012) also adds that climate change causes rising temperature, droughts and desertification, heavy precipitations, flooding, rising sea level, extreme weather events such as cyclones, floods and droughts leading to mal-nutrition, waterborne diseases as diarrhea and vector-borne diseases as malaria, drowning, severe mental and physical trauma. In attempt to address these problems, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate change (UNIFCC) was held in June, 1992 with 154 nations in attendance and in December, 1997 in Kyoto Japan, 160 nations also met. Decisions reached in these meetings were to reduce human activities that produce greenhouse gases, in that, it is human activities that enhance greenhouse effects, which has the potentials to warm the planet at the rate that has never been experienced before. Therefore, there is the need for man to be enlightened on this issue as well as proffer solution to it.

1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

morbidity and outbreak of infectious diseases, increase in cases of cataract of the eyes, skin diseases and cancers, increase in the growth of insects and pest that is a threat to human health, increase in waterborne disease (typhoid and cholera), airborne diseases such as pneumonia, poliomyelitis, tuberculosis, measles and diphtheria, neonatal tetanus and pertussis. Litus (2012) also adds that climate change causes rising temperature, droughts and desertification, heavy precipitations, flooding, rising sea level, extreme weather events such as cyclones, floods and droughts leading to mal-nutrition, waterborne diseases as diarrhea and vector-borne diseases as malaria, drowning, severe mental and physical trauma. In attempt to address these problems, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate change (UNIFCC) was held in June, 1992 with 154 nations in attendance and in December, 1997 in Kyoto Japan, 160 nations also met. Decisions reached in these meetings were to reduce human activities that produce greenhouse gases, in that, it is human activities that enhance greenhouse effects, which has the potentials to warm the planet at the rate that has never been experienced before. Therefore, there is the need for man to be enlightened on this issue as well as proffer solution to it.

This study highlighted the misconception and misunderstanding that people hold about climate change issues in terms of causality, consequences and cures (Boyes and Stanisstreet, 1992, 1998; Dove, 1996; and Rye, Rubba and Wiesenmajer, 1997). Studies have also shown that misconceptions about climate change issues are not only held by social science teachers as well (Papadimitriou, 2001). These misconceptions according to Aladag and Ugurlu (2009) are probably due to, among other things, the complexity of the science involved, the uncertainties and controversies surrounding them. Climate change awareness involves creating knowledge, understanding and values, attitude, skills and abilities among individuals and social groups towards the issues of climate change for attaining a better quality environment. Climate change specialists have repeatedly pointed out that a solution to climate change problem will require climate change awareness and its proper understanding. The role of social science teachers will go a long way in achieving this purpose. As succinctly pointed out by Mosothware (1991) social science teachers can provide a vital link in the delivery of environmental knowledge, its associated problems and solution. In order to fasten their awareness towards climate change it is necessary to know what level of awareness they posses. This paper therefore assesses the level of social science teachers’ climate change awareness in Ondo State, since Education has a serious role to play in helping to give out the correct message about climate change so as to mitigate and alleviate its effects.

1. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship effect of global warming, climate change and its knowledge among social science teachers in Ondo State.

The specific objectives of this study will be:

1. To ascertain the effects of global warming and climate change
2. To examine the causes of global warming and climate change
3. To assess the level of awareness of social science teachers on the effect of global warming and climate.
4. To provide ways in which global warming and climate change can be reduce.

1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

 Rising from the objectives of the study, the following research questions will be address in the study:

1. What are the effects of global warming and climate change?
2. What are the causes of global warming and climate change?
3. What is the level of awareness of social science teachers on the effect of global warming and climate?
4. In what ways in which global warming and climate change can be reduce?

1. STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS

H0 there is no significant relationship between effect of climate change and global warming and its knowledge among social science teachers.

H1 there is significant relationship between effect of climate change and global warming and its knowledge among social science teachers.

1. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study will be of great importance not only to social science teachers, but to the general public on the level of knowledge awareness on the effect of climate change and global warming. It will explore the relationship effects and causes of climate change and global warming. Consequently, at the end of this study, the level of awareness and knowledge on the effect of climate change and global warming will be boosted.

1. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study is only limited to the social science teachers on the knowledge awareness of the effect of climate change and global warming in Ondo State.

1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

TIME CONSTRAINTS: One the challenges experienced by the researcher is the issue of time; the research will simultaneously engage in departmental activities like seminars and attendance to lectures. But the researcher was able to meet up with the deadline for the submission of the project.

FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS: Every research work needs funding; however lack of adequate funds might affect the speed of the researcher in getting materials for completion of the project.

1. DEFINITION OF TERMS

Climate change

Climate Change Climate change is defined as any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation, or wind) lasting for a long period of time usually several years. The factors which could lead to climate change vary but include natural factors, such as changes in the sun's intensity, slow changes in the earth's orbit around the sun, natural processes within the climate system (such as changes in ocean circulation) and human activities that change the atmosphere's composition (such as through the burning of fossil fuels) and the land surface (such as deforestation, reforestation, urbanization and desertification).

Global warming

Global warming has been defined as an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the earth’s surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to changes in global climate patterns. Global warming can occur due to a variety of causes which may be natural or human induced. Global warming is commonly used to mean the warming that can occur as a result of increased emissions of green house gases from human activities.

Awareness

 Information

Management effectiveness