IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON BUILDING DESIGN AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES THROUGH SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE IN JIMETA, ADAMAWA STATE

Climate change presents urgent challenges to the built environment, especially in developing regions such as Jimeta, Adamawa State, Nigeria, where extreme heat, flooding, and energy dependence are increasingly common. This study investigates the impact of climate change on building design in Jimeta and explores mitigation strategies through sustainable architecture. The research was guided by three objectives: to assess current building design and construction practices, to identify climate-related risks faced by occupants, and to evaluate the effectiveness of sustainable design strategies in addressing these risks. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, involving questionnaires, interviews with professionals, and field observations of residential, institutional, and commercial buildings. The results revealed that most buildings in Jimeta are poorly adapted to the local climate, characterized by inadequate orientation, limited natural ventilation, absence of shading devices, and reliance on heat-retaining materials such as concrete and corrugated roofing sheets. These deficiencies expose occupants to high indoor heat stress, frequent flooding due to poor drainage, and excessive reliance on fans and air conditioners, thereby increasing energy consumption and carbon emissions. However, the findings also demonstrated that sustainable strategies—such as cross-ventilation, deep verandas, tree shading, use of locally available materials, and integration of renewable energy systems—can significantly reduce indoor heat, lower energy costs, and improve resilience to climate risks. While awareness of sustainable practices is growing among both occupants and professionals, implementation is hindered by cost barriers, limited policy enforcement, and low technical expertise. The study concludes that climate change has a direct and negative impact on building performance and occupant well-being in Jimeta. Sustainable architecture provides a viable pathway to mitigation and adaptation, but success will require stronger regulatory frameworks, incentives for green technologies, professional training, and community awareness.