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Japan pledges climate change aid to Pacific island nations in latest bid to raise clout

Associated Press
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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, accompanied by Palau's President Tommy Remengesau, speaks following the 7th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan Saturday, May 23, 2015. Japan pledged Saturday 55 billion yen ($450 million) in aid to Pacific island nations that are battling rising sea levels and natural calamities as a result of global warming. (Shigeyuki Inakuma/Kyodo News via AP) JAPAN OUT, CREDIT MANDATORY (The Associated Press)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, shakes hands with Palau's President Tommy Remengesau, co-chairman of the 7th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting, at the closing of a two-day meeting in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan Saturday, May 23, 2015. Japan pledged Saturday 55 billion yen ($450 million) in aid to Pacific island nations that are battling rising sea levels and natural calamities as a result of global warming. (Shigeyuki Inakuma/Kyodo News via AP) JAPAN OUT, CREDIT MANDATORY (The Associated Press)

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, bottom center, Tuvalu's Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga, bottom right, and other leaders of Pacific island nations at the start of their meeting in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan Saturday, May 23, 2015. Japan pledged Saturday 55 billion yen ($450 million) in aid to Pacific island nations that are battling rising sea levels and natural calamities as a result of global warming. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made the pledge at a two-day meeting with the island nations' leaders. (Shigeyuki Inakuma/Kyodo News via AP) (The Associated Press)

Japan is giving 55 billion yen ($450 million) in climate change and disaster aid to Pacific island nations, an effort to beef up its profile in the region.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made the pledge at a meeting with Pacific island nations in Iwaki in northern Japan on Saturday.

The assistance will be doled out over three years to help fight climate change and natural disasters. Japan will also help with expert exchanges and training.

The island nations include Fiji, the Marshall Islands, the Solomon Islands and others dotting the Pacific Ocean, some of which are threatened with rising sea levels.