Green Effort from Japan - 緑色の取り組みは日本から

Japan on Saturday( 23 May 09)pledged 50 billion yen (528 million dollars) in aid to small Pacific islands over the next three years to help them with clean energy projects and to cope with climate change.

In a statement, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and 14 island nations expressed "deep concern" about the "growing threat posed by climate change to the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being and security of Pacific island countries."

The 14 island nations were the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Under the plan, Japan will provide solar battery panels and water clarification systems for islanders, while supporting people-to-people exchanges and technical training programmes to reduce greenhouse gases.