Environmental communication and sustainable environment practice: a study of Ughelli, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

In recent times, debates around climate change have increasingly examined the contributions of both urban- industrial activities and rural/semi-urban environmental practices. However, environmental scholarship em phasises that climate change drivers are multi-scalar and interconnected rather than attributable to a single domain (IPCC, 2014). Against this backdrop, this study investigated the role of environmental communication in promoting sustainable environmental practices among residents of Ughelli, Delta State, Nigeria. The objectives were to determine the level of exposure of Ughelli residents to environmental communication, identify their sources of information, and ascertain the extent to which sustainable practices are adopted. This study integrated Agenda Setting Theory and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) by linking media exposure to behavioural intention constructs such as attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control. A quantitative research method was adopted, and data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that exposure to environmental communication is generally low, with primary sources being public address systems and word-of-mouth communication. Adoption of sustainable practices was also found to be minimal. The study concludes that environmental communication effectiveness is constrained by socio-economic, cultural, and infrastructural factors. The findings are exploratory and indicative due to the descriptive design and single-case focus. Recommendations emphasise context-specific communication strategies, stakeholder engagement, and resource-sensitive interventions.