Environmental communication and sustainable behaviour: Media use and climate change awareness in rural Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Extant publications reviewed acknowledge the negative impacts of climate change on
environmental degradation, which necessitate innovative approaches to achieving sustainable
outcomes. The trending nature of misinformation, the digital divide, and policy limitations are
negating environmental sustainability, resulting in health risks and dislocation, among others, in
Nigeria. This paper examines how media and online platforms (digital platforms, social media, and
online news) are expected to foster environmental awareness, mobilize public action, and shape
policies for environmental sustainability in Nigeria. The Strain and Agenda-Setting theories are
employed to guide the study. Qualitative method and In-depth interviews were conducted among
twenty-five (25) residents of Odeda Local Government Area in Ogun State, Nigeria. Purposive
sampling was used with an unstructured questionnaire. All ethical conditions and the face-to-face
method were employed. The content analysis method was adopted. The study finds that traditional
media remains the primary channel for providing information to rural residents, compared with
emerging media for advancing and solving environmental challenges among rural dwellers.
Environmental and media experts should establish new media facilities, such as film shows and
symposia, to channel information to rural dwellers rather than focusing on urban development,
which creates marginalization gaps in environmental sustainability in Nigeria.