The Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave the go-ahead Friday to a bill that would provide up to $1.5 billion to a U.N.-backed fund aimed at assisting developing countries in combating climate change.
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida expressed willingness to "take a leading role" in U.N. climate talks by ensuring Japan's early contribution to the Green Climate Fund through Diet approval of the bill during the current session.
"The fund has assumed an extremely important role in advancing climate change negotiations, and this is an important year when countries decide on a new framework (for fighting climate change) from 2020 on," he said.
The envisaged contribution compares with $3 billion pledged by the United States, $1.2 billion by Britain and $1 billion each by France and Germany.