CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN NIGERIA

This study examined climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction as mechanisms for promoting sustainable peace in Nigeria. The study was motivated by increasing incidences of climate-related disasters, resource-based conflicts, farmer-herder clashes, flooding, desertification, and environmental degradation that continue to threaten peace and socio-economic stability across the country. Four objectives guided the study: to examine the influence of climate change adaptation strategies on sustainable peace, determine the effect of disaster risk reduction measures on community stability, assess the relationship between climate resilience and peaceful coexistence, and evaluate the combined influence of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction on sustainable peace in Nigeria. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design involving community leaders, environmental officers, peace-building practitioners, and disaster management officials drawn from Plateau, Benue, Borno, and Kebbi States. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire using a four-point Likert Scale and analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlation, and Multiple Regression Analysis. The findings revealed that climate change adaptation significantly enhanced sustainable peace (β = 0.473, p < 0.05). Disaster risk reduction measures significantly improved community stability (β = 0.418, p < 0.05). Climate resilience demonstrated a strong positive relationship with peaceful coexistence (r = 0.756, p < 0.05). Furthermore, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction jointly explained 73.1% of the variation in sustainable peace (R² = 0.731, p < 0.05). The study concluded that climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction constitute effective pathways towards sustainable peace in Nigeria. The study recommended strengthening climate adaptation programmes, institutionalising disaster risk reduction strategies, promoting climate-resilient livelihoods, and integrating environmental security considerations into peace-building initiatives.