MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE: A MICROECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE

Cornelius, N. Kwanga

Department of Economics

Yobe State University, Damaturu, Yobe State – Nigeria.

E-mail: kwangacn@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The devastating effects of climate change on economies cannot be over emphasized. This often translates into increased government expenditure with priority especially in the environment and health sectors whereas these resources could be used to develop other sectors of the economy. Governments, intergovernmental agencies and NGOs are leading the fight against climate change. The microeconomic units of the society comprising of individuals, household and firms especially in Africa are still to devote sufficient attention to its mitigation. The reason associated to this is tied to inadequate awareness amongst these set of people and reliance on the causality debate. Considering that it is an accumulation of human activities that are the major causes of climate change, the microeconomic units therefore play an important part in causing it and could do same in mitigating its effects if well guided. With this premise in mind, this paper seeks to boost awareness while highlighting measures that could be employed by individuals, households and firms in mitigating climate change. Using a qualitative approach, the paper establishes that there is a gap in awareness creation that needs to be closed in order to get these individual units into the mainstream of fighting climate change. To achieve the objective, the paper highlights a series of conscious choices that individual economic units can employ so as to boost climate change mitigating efforts. The paper recommends public awareness creation through proper information flow, integration of climate change as an important aspect of the curriculum of schools at all levels of education in Africa, and public discussion and finally the adoption of a climate – friendly conscious life style amongst others.