Japan pledges $528m climate aid to Pacific Islands

Source: AFP

SHIMUKAPPU, Japan (AFP) — Japan on Saturday 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.

Japan Prime Minister Taro Aso announced the financial assistance, an increase of more than 10 percent from its pledge announced three years ago, at the closing of the fifth Pacific Leaders Meeting in northern Japan.

"Pacific leaders are worried about rising sea levels," Aso told a news conference. "Hearing concerns of Pacific island leaders was very persuasive."

Japan wants to use its "leading edge technology" to help Pacific island nations facing rising sea levels from global warming," the premier said.



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The piece "Now" on PBS did on Kiribati was just heartbreaking. I'm glad to see Japan wants to help. I hope it's not too little, too late. :-(

atolls in the Pacific. They will be under water in 100 years, but they will be uninhabitable in much less time than that.

Might as well start planning the relocation of the people of those affected islands. I think some already are.