*Japan plans $10 bln aid to fight global warming*

10 Jan 2008 02:35:36 GMT
Source: Reuters

TOKYO, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Japan plans to set aside about $10 billion
over the next five years to help countries such as China and Indonesia
fight global warming, a newspaper reported on Thursday.

Japan's top government spokesman, Nobutaka Machimura, confirmed to
reporters that Tokyo planned to launch an aid programme but said it had
yet to work out details.

The aid would be focused on measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions,
ease the effects of disasters caused by global warming and promote the
use of alternative energy sources, the Nikkei business daily said.

The aid would come in the form of grants or low-interest loans, it said.

Japan would help improve the efficiency of China's ageing coal-fired
power plants and money would also be used to assist developing countries
to gather meteorological data to help them prevent natural disasters,
the Nikkei said.

It said Japan was expected to formally agree to provide Indonesia with
aid in March and would also help Tuvalu, a low-lying Pacific country
that has already suffered from rising seas and storm surges linked to
climate change. (Reporting by Teruaki Ueno; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani
and Rodney Joyce)