By G.U Chukwu

The more than 853-kilometer Nigerian coastline is especially susceptible to its effects. The aquatic ecosystems in Nigeria are affected. It is a problem with many effects, ranging from ocean acidification and biodiversity loss to rising sea levels and changed precipitation patterns.

This is taking place in a nation that has pledged to reduce emissions by 20 percent on its own and 47 percent with international assistance by 2030, with a net-zero target by 2060. According to statistics, Nigeria is one of the top 25 in the world for greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, agriculture, forests, energy, water resources, infrastructure, health, and other areas are the main topics of the nation’s climate change plans.

Despite all of this, the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, the thermal expansion of seawater, and rising sea levels are fads. This is particularly true for the extremely susceptible Niger Delta region. The issue of ocean acidification, which is a serious threat to marine ecosystems and is brought on by seawater’s absorption of more atmospheric carbon dioxide, is no longer news.

This process lowers the pH of seawater, making it more acidic and harmful to marine life, including corals, shellfish, and some types of plankton, that have calcium carbonate skeletons or shells. The food chain is upset and the general well-being of marine ecosystems is impacted when these organisms disappear. By increasing sea levels, temperatures, and marine heatwaves, climate change is also causing a decline in biodiversity.

Particularly at risk are coral reefs, which support a wide variety of marine life, and the ecosystem as a whole is being negatively impacted by their decline. As if that weren’t enough, changing ocean currents and precipitation patterns due to climate change are also affecting Nigerian waters’ productivity. According to pundits, fish migration is hampered by changes in ocean currents.

Nigeria’s fisheries subsector is a major source of concern since it makes up a sizable portion of the country’s GDP and employs many people. The sustainability of inland fisheries is also threatened by extreme weather and rising sea levels. People and organizations lament that tackling the problems caused by climate change in Nigeria’s aquatic ecosystems calls for a diversified strategy. This entails cutting greenhouse gas emissions, putting sustainable fisheries management techniques into place, protecting and rehabilitating coastal ecosystems, funding monitoring and research initiatives, and raising public awareness.

Creating and implementing climate-resilient regulations for the maritime industry is one important way that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) can contribute. Oil spills can worsen the effects of climate change, so the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) is also involved in reducing their negative environmental effects. That as it may, with a UNDP-NDC Support Program already underway, the UNDP is dedicated to helping Nigeria with its climate action initiatives.

One of the UN’s priorities is deeper interaction with the public and private sectors. The UN acknowledges the threats to healthy oceans, such as pollution, acidification, and overfishing, as well as their vital importance. The preservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas, and marine resources are the main objectives of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14). The UN is tackling ocean acidification, managing and protecting marine ecosystems sustainably, and preventing and reducing marine pollution.

The UN also seeks to protect marine and coastal areas, control overfishing, and regulate harvesting. As the UN helps Nigeria tackle climate change and ocean-related issues through financial and technical support, policy development, capacity building, and the promotion of sustainable practices, it is thought that Nigeria will not give up the fight against climate change.

*G.U Chukwu writes from Imo State.