Abuja – The Catholic Archdiocese of  Abuja is to  partner  with the Federal Government on the  Renewable Energy Programme  aimed at  addressing  the impact of climate change.

Rev. Sister  Agatha Chikelue, the Administrator of  the archdiocese, said this on Saturday during a visit  to the National Coordinator of  the Renewable Energy Programme, Mrs  Bahijjahtu Abubakar

Chikelue said the partnership became necessary due to the devastating effect of climate change in the rural communities.

“Climate change cuts across borders and its impact is felt by everybody; as stakeholders on  the issue of  the environment,  we should not leave the issue of finding a solution to the adverse impact of climate change to the government alone.

“We all must come together and join hands with the government in its effort to tackle the issue of adverse impact of climate change and the preservation and conservation of our environment,’’ she said.

She  stressed  the importance of faith-based  organisations in community awareness initiatives, saying government must integrate them in its efforts  at  tackling the impact of climate change.

Chikelue said the  archdiocese  had been creating awareness  among church members, school children and rural communities, adding that they were veritable tools  for  disseminating information on the dangers of  climate change.

Responding, Abubakar said that the  partnership of the archdiocese  with government was  a welcome development.

She said with the partnership,  the  initiative of  using solar energy as an alternative to electricity would be welcomed in the rural areas,  especially by women.

Abubakar said lack of   rural electricity was  hampering  educational attainment while worsening  poverty and quality of  life in rural communities.

She,  however,  said the  renewable energy Solar Kit Project would address the electricity challenge in  rural communities.

The project, she said, was  the Federal Government’s  initiative   to  address  the impact of climate change in  rural communities.

She urged  the archdiocese to assist  government in driving the project in  rural communities, adding that other   programmes  to  assist rural  people adapt to  the impact of climate change were  underway. (NAN)