Exploring the Anthropocentric Attitude of Nigerians to Climate Change: Implications for Sustainable Development

The far-reaching consequences of climate change; a global phenomenon are more profound in developing countries like Nigeria, where climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent and severe. Despite the growing awareness of climate change and its impact on the environment, Nigerians continue to exhibit an anthropocentric attitude, which undermines the efforts to mitigate and adapt to the challenges posed by climate change. This study is a critical examination of the anthropocentric attitude of Nigerians to climate change and its implications for sustainable development. The findings indicate that Nigerians exhibit an anthropocentric attitude to climate change, which is reflected in their behaviours, beliefs, and values. For instance, Nigerians tend to prioritize economic development over environmental sustainability, resulting in increased greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation. Additionally, Nigerians tend to view climate change as a problem that affects only distant and future generations, rather than a current and urgent challenge that requires immediate action. The implications of the anthropocentric attitude of Nigerians to climate change include increased vulnerability to climate-related disasters, loss of biodiversity, food insecurity, and decreased human well-being. The anthropocentric attitude of Nigerians to climate change is a manifestation of a broader societal problem of unsustainable development, characterized by a disregard for the environment, resource depletion, and social inequality. The analytical, historical and evaluative methods were employed in this study to conclude that there is a need for a paradigm shift towards climate change that involves a reorientation of the attitudes, beliefs, and values of Nigerians towards the environment which can be achieved through a combination of education, public awareness campaigns, and policy interventions that promote sustainable development practices is paramount.