Efficacy of Citizens’ Participation in Strategic Planning towards Adaptation to Climate Risk: Evidence from Densely Populated Emerging Urban Centres

Abstract

Poor electricity supply is a dismal feature of densely populated cities. Within especially developing countries (DCs), this situation prompts consideration for human intervention, such as the use of candles, lanterns and stand-by generators, all of which are major drivers of climate change by the emission of CO (Carbon II Oxide) into the atmosphere. Evidently, the adverse climatic effects such as flooding, hurricane and urban heat—have set-forth extant academic debates. Still, adaptation in densely populated cities within the DCs is surrounded by many uncertainties. This study answers the most fundamental question which is: how are people living in densely populated cities able to adapt to the climate risk induced by using alternative electricity sources? Grounded on the theory of resource-based view (RBV), the study integrates strategic planning techniques into climate risk adaptation, through a survey conducted around three most populated locations in Enugu metropolis of Nigeria. The results indicate a good knowledge of climate change within the area, although the level of public participation in urban development efforts and climate change adaptation remained poor. We argue that much improvement in awareness and compliance to climate risk adaptation will occur in the DCs if more people are involved in the strategic policy and planning process. This study thus reinforces the existence of climate risk in the area, enables increased public participation in policy formulation, simplifies the present complex process in the delivery of urban development goals, and supports achieving the goal of building a society resilient to climate risk.