Exploring Climate Change Impacts on Disaster Risk Management: Environmental Risk Assessment in Abia State, Nigeria
By Uchenna-Ogbodo E.E, et al.Climate change has significantly impacted disaster risk management, particularly in regions prone to environmental hazards. In Abia State, Nigeria, flooding has emerged as a predominant environmental risk, exacerbated by increasing rainfall intensity and urbanization. This study aimed to assess the environmental vulnerability of Abia State to flooding using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) techniques. Key variables such as land use, elevation, proximity to drainage networks, and soil texture were analysed to develop a comprehensive flood vulnerability map. The results indicate that 33.21% of the study area is highly vulnerable to flooding, 43.26% is moderately vulnerable, and 23.53% is lowly vulnerable. The most affected areas include Ukwa West, Ukwa East, Aba South, and Ugwunagbo Local Government Areas. The study underscores the need for proactive disaster risk management strategies, integrating urban planning and sustainable environmental management to mitigate flood risks effectively.