Exploring Socio-Cultural Hindrances to Climate Change Mitigation in Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/Keywords:
Climate change adaptation, Climate change mitigation, Community engagement, Socio-cultural barriers, Traditional beliefsAbstract
Climate change continues to pose complex challenges across global, regional, and local scales, with its impacts disproportionately affecting communities in developing countries. In rural and semi-urban settings like Badagry, where tradition, belief systems, and communal structures remain deeply embedded, these socio-cultural factors can either facilitate or hinder mitigation strategies. This study therefore explores how local beliefs, values, and community norms influence climate change mitigation efforts. By examining community responses, this research investigates how cultural identities intersect with environmental action. Understanding these dynamics is critical not only for designing effective climate policies but also for ensuring that such policies are locally relevant, culturally appropriate, and socially inclusive. Questionnaires were distributed across three communities: Ibereko, Apa and Ilogbo. The findings reveal that while a substantial majority of respondents recognize human-caused climate change and the urgent need for mitigation measures, traditional beliefs, lack of awareness, and economic constraints serve as significant barriers to effective climate action. Political ideology, cultural norms, and socio-economic limitations profoundly impact the perception and response to climate change within these communities. Recommendations include implementing targeted awareness programs, developing inclusive policy-making processes that respect cultural values, and leveraging community leadership to foster climate action.
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