Carbon Footprint Perception Among Residents of Bukuru Area of Jos South, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

The environment has been undergoing significant alterations, attributable to increased human population and their activities, which in turn is exacerbating carbon dioxide emissions. Carbondioxide is one of the major greenhouse gases (GHGs) warming up the Earth to cause global climate change. This study investigates carbon footprint perception among the residents of Bukuru area of Jos South using quantitative survey method. Bukuru was purposely divided into urban and suburbs for the study, while simple random sampling technique was used in selecting 150 respondents who were administered with questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to
analyse the raw data collected and results presented in Tables. Results showed that majority of the respondents are aware of the concept of carbon footprint, its causes and threats. The respondents frequently cited causes of the menace to include open dumping of waste (82%) and bush clearance/burning (59%). Findings of the study revealed that residents perceived daily use of fossil-based cooking fuels (100%), daily use of automobile vehicles (100%), frequent use of refrigerators/freezers (81%), and intermittent use of insecticides/pesticides (78%) as the major causes of carbon footprints. From the findings, residents perceived that the problem of carbon footprint could be mitigated through: reduction in petrol-powered generators (23%), proper waste disposal methods (15.6%), practicing of climate-friendly agriculture (15%), afforestation (11.8%), and reduction in aerosol-releasing activities (11.0%), among others. Based on the findings, study recommended the need for government to implement all agreements on climate change, increase publicity among the general public about the menace, and environmental curricula be taught to students at all levels and disciplines.