Research on the level of public knowledge and awareness about global warming in TERMS of different variables in Abuja, Nigeria

Background: Global warming is one of the major problem that could negatively affect the ecosystem and the health of humans. Global warming occurs when greenhouse gases(carbon dioxide (CO2) and chlorofluorocarbons) and other air pollutant which include particulate matter, benzene, toxic metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and ozone(O3) accumulate in the atmosphere and absorb solar radiation and sunlight and eventually bound off the earth’s surface. Global warming may cause unalterable damage if no effort is made to avert it. Consequently determining the public knowledge and awareness on the topic would be one of the solutions of the problem. Objective: The goal of this research is to identify the level of knowledge and awareness about global warming that will make people more conscious about the effect of global warming. Method: In this study, survey research was used as the methodology. The sample of the study consisted of 1000 people randomly chosen from the center of capital territory Abuja, when determining the sample, age, gender, qualification and occupation variables were taken into considerations and it has created an impartial distributions. A questionnaire consisting of 14 questions was set as data collection tool. The data obtained from the survey were analyzed by chi-square. Results: This research has reached the results of how individuals perceive global warming as a big problem. This perception is informed out of the devastating effect of global warming which is heightened due to information available on media platforms. But one striking observation glaring in the result is that respondents do not have enough consciousness about what causes global warming and how it affects their livelihood. Conclusion: The data indicates that the participants of the study are aware of global warming but they are not at sufficient level of knowledge for the possible effects and the prevention of global warming. Moreover, the information on individual’s level of awareness about global warming shows statistically momentous differences in terms of gender, age, qualification and occupation.