Abstract:
Climate change is one of the world’s most debated issue that has taken over all aspects of scientific and
non-scientific research desks for which Nigeria is not left out. It is on this note that this research work
investigates the usage of print media coverage of climate change and related issues in Nigeria. The study
adopted the content analysis method (quantitative and qualitative) and the use of questionnaires for public
opinion survey in four disproportionately selected state capitals. Daily newspapers articles on stories with
‘climate change’ and ‘global warming’ were extracted and analyzed statistically for the period of six years
from January, 2007 to December, 2012. The study revealed that 30% of the coverage of issues on climate
change/global warming was highest in year 2008, 60% focused on opinion perspective while 40%
accounted for policy perspective. In the newspapers, carbon (IV) oxide and greenhouse gas emission
(56%) were suggested as major contributors to climate change. Among other effects of climate change,
flooding (29%) and desertification (20%) were major issues reported in the dailies. The ministry of
environment (federal and state) was scarcely mentioned among other environmental agencies due to low
level of media publicity. However, the Lagos ministry of environment was noted as taking the lead in
climate change campaign during the study period. Public opinion survey showed that 82% believe that
climate change/global warming is not a major environmental concern as air pollution, 96% of the public
recognized its evidences while most respondents get more awareness from the television (77%) than from
the radio (58%), newspapers (58%) or the internet (50%).
Keywords: Climate Change, Global Warming, Flooding, Desertification, Print media, Awareness
