VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOME PARTS OF SUDANO-SAHELIAN NIGERIA

Abstract

The effects of the impact of climate change will in no doubt affect the ability of the third world countries to achieve poverty reduction and sustainable development strategies The focus of the vulnerability considered in this paper, is vulnerability to drought and desertification. The degree of wetness dryness mean annual rainfall specific water consumption and the shortest length of the rainy season were examined and used as indices for the vulnerability ranking In doing this, the states are ranked in terms of each index of vulnerability, then the rank each state achieved for the four indices were averaged to derive a mean rank score. The average rank score was used to derive the overall rank Sokoto state is found to be the most vulnerable state to the drying effect of climate change. Sokoto is followed by Jigawa. Zamfara, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, and Kaduna in that order, making Kaduna the least Vulnerable of all the north-western States of the country However, by incorporating climate change adaptation will better manage the risks, adapt to changing future risks management to development strategies.