Climate change and its consequences have more or less become an expected occurrence and an inevitable result of the world’s physical, biotic and chemical processes. From global increase in temperatures, continuous increase in sea level, loss of arctic sea ice, and changes in type, distribution and coverage of vegetation, climate change has become one of the worrying occurrences in the world. The impacts of climate change on Blekusu are not different from other coastal communities as the community is also a coastal community. The study was concerned with assessing the impact of climate change on Blekusu, a coastal community in the Ketu-South municipality. The study revealed that destruction of infrastructure as a result of the rising sea volume is one impact of climate change that is worrying the people of Blekusu. The study also revealed that construction of a sea defense wall is one way by which the destruction caused by the rising sea volume can be prevented. In this regard, the study therefore recommended that the government of Ghana must ensure that existing institutions, agencies and functionaries in charge of educating the public with respect to climate change and its effects in the country are adequately equipped to be able to discharge their duties effectively.
Table of Contents
1. CHAPTER ONE
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKROUND TO THE STUDY
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1.4 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
1.8 ORGANISATION OF THE STUDY
2. CHAPTER TWO
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
2.2 THE CONCEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
2.3 EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON LIVELIHOODS
2.4 CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE
2.5 MITIGATING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
2.6 THE CLIMATE CHANGE SITUATION IN GHANA
2.7 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.7.1 The Theory of Change
2.7.2 The Anthropocene Theory
3. CHAPTER THREE
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.0 OVERVIEW
3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN
3.2 STUDY AREA
3.3 STUDY POPULATION
3.4 SAMPLING SIZE AND TECHNIQUE
3.5 SOURCES OF DATA
3.6 DATA COLLECTION METHOD
3.7 DATA ANALYSIS
3.9 LIMITATIONS OF THE RESEARCH
3.10 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
4. CHAPTER FOUR
4. ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.0 INTRODUCTION
4.1 GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE RESPONDENTS
4.2 STATUS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN BLEKUSU
4.3 Effects of Climate Change on the residents of Blekusu
4.4 Mitigating the Effects of Climate change on the residents of Blekusu
4.5 Assessing the efforts of the government of Ghana in mitigating the impact of climate change on the residents of Blekusu
5. CHAPTER FIVE
5. SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 INTRODUCTION
5.2 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
5.3 CONCLUSION
5.4 RECOMMENDATIONS
Research Objectives and Key Themes
This thesis aims to assess the environmental, social, and economic impacts of climate change within the coastal community of Blekusu in the Ketu-South Municipality. The research specifically evaluates how rising sea levels and shifting weather patterns affect local livelihoods and examines current mitigation strategies and government intervention efforts.
- Impact of climate change on coastal infrastructure and housing.
- Analysis of local perceptions regarding temperature and rainfall variations.
- Evaluation of adaptation strategies employed by the residents of Blekusu.
- Assessment of governmental and institutional responsiveness to local climate crises.
- Identification of barriers to effective climate change management in coastal Ghana.
Excerpt from the Book
4.2 STATUS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN BLEKUSU
Climate change is a pervasive social problem whose effects are gradually catching up with many countries in Africa. The situation is not different in Ghana as more people are gradually awakening to climate change and its effects. Most communities in Ghana, especially coastal communities are in one way or the other experiencing the effects of climate change. Although, all coastal communities in Ghana are in one way or the other experiencing the effects of climate change, the experiences of every coastal community with climate change is different. In this light, this study investigated the state of climate change in Blekusu.
In investigating this, the respondents were asked a number of questions. The respondents were first asked if they have experienced any effect of climate change in the community. Majority (92) of the respondents, representing 68.1 per cent, answered in the affirmative to indicate that 'Yes' they are experiencing the effects of climate change in the community. The remaining forty three respondents, representing 31.9 per cent, answered in the negative to indicate that 'No' they have not and are not experiencing the effects of climate change in Blekusu. Figure 4.2 below shows the distribution of the responses given by the respondents.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the research background, defines the problem statement regarding the impacts of climate change, and outlines the specific objectives and research questions guiding the study.
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW: This chapter provides a comprehensive review of existing scholarly theories, including the Theory of Change and the Anthropocene Theory, and examines the global and local context of climate change.
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: This chapter details the mixed-methods research design, the study area characteristics, the sampling techniques used, and the ethical considerations maintained during the data collection process.
CHAPTER FOUR: ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS: This chapter presents the empirical data gathered from respondents and discusses the specific environmental and economic effects of climate change observed in Blekusu, alongside government efforts.
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: This final chapter synthesizes the main findings, draws a concluding assessment of the situation in Blekusu, and offers policy recommendations for stakeholders.
Keywords
Climate Change, Blekusu, Coastal Community, Ketu-South Municipality, Livelihood, Sea Defense, Infrastructure, Mitigation, Adaptation, Anthropocene, Environmental Science, Policy, Sustainability, Natural Disasters, Ghana.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on assessing the environmental and socio-economic impacts of climate change within the specific coastal community of Blekusu in Ghana's Ketu-South Municipality.
What are the core thematic areas of the study?
The core themes include the status of climate change, its impact on local livelihoods, local mitigation efforts, and the effectiveness of government interventions in coastal protection.
What is the central research question?
The study aims to determine how climate change manifests in Blekusu, how it impacts the residents' livelihoods, and what measures are being taken to mitigate these challenges.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The study employs a mixed-design approach, integrating both qualitative and quantitative research methods to analyze primary data from questionnaires and interviews, as well as secondary literature.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers the literature review on climate change theories, the specific methodology, the presentation of survey results regarding infrastructure and livelihood damage, and discussions on government policy.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Climate Change, Blekusu, Livelihoods, Coastal Protection, Infrastructure, Adaptation, and Policy Management.
Why is the sea defense wall a critical topic in this book?
The sea defense wall is highlighted as the most urgent and frequently cited mitigation measure by the residents of Blekusu to prevent the rising sea from destroying their homes and land.
How do the residents perceive the government's role in this crisis?
A significant majority of respondents believe that the government has not done enough, citing a lack of proper sea defense structures and insufficient public education on climate change.
What is the significance of the "Anthropocene Theory" in this context?
The Anthropocene Theory is used to contextualize how human activities and industrialization have fundamentally altered Earth's geological processes, which directly contributes to the climate-induced disasters currently affecting Blekusu.
- Citation du texte
- Daniel Akoto (Auteur), 2020, Assessing the impact of climate change in a coastal community. A case study of Blekusu in the Ketu-south Municipality, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/958818
