Climate Change, Flooding, and Human Health Nexus

Good Health and Well-Being, which is United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4, and Climate Action, which is SDG 13, can be greatly advanced in Nigeria when the issue of flooding and its impact on human health is given serious consideration. Flooding, which is one of the impacts of climate change, is an environmental problem that requires collaborative efforts among stakeholders in order to adapt and mitigate for sustainable development in Nigeria. The effects of flooding have far-reaching environmental, social, agricultural, and economic impacts and are ultimately harmful to human health in Nigeria. Flooding has been discovered to not only affect physical health but can also harm the emotional and mental health of individuals in Nigeria. Mitigation and adaptation strategies are, therefore, necessary for effective management of the impacts of flooding on human health in Nigeria. Through literature review and participant observation, this study identifies flooding as one of the major impacts of climate change in Nigeria. It identifies climate change education as one of the interventions to address flooding and its impact on human health. It further recommends innovative solutions to the impacts of flooding on the physical, mental, and emotional health of vulnerable groups in Nigeria. It concludes with a clarion call to conduct further research in this novel field of study.