Influence of gender and age on attitudes toward climate change: a survey of a Nigerian university students' population

Abstract

Climate change has been one of the most-threatening environmental disaster in our present generation due to its detrimental effects manifesting in short-term and long-term consequences such as floods and gradual degradation of the environment. In Nigeria, the impacts of climate change is more devastating because some age groups and gender are more vulnerable to climate change risks particularly in tertiary institutions. This upsurge is partly due to attitudinal dispositions. This present study examines the role of gender and age in determining attitudes toward climate change of a Nigerian university student's population. Descriptive survey research design was used to conduct this study with a sample of 203 students in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, South-western Nigeria, comprising (57.1%) males, and (42.9%) females (Mean age =23.6years, SD=5.2). Data were collected using Socio-Demographic Questisonnaire (SDQ), and Climate Change Attitudes Survey (CCAS).The results suggest that 45.8% of participants reported that human activities cause global climate change. Gender had no significant influence on attitudes toward climate change. (t (201)=.867, p>.05). The result also showed that age significantly influenced attitudes toward climate change (F(2,177) =3.440, p,<0.05). These findings have implications for climate change action plan in Nigeria.