Japan's government pledged financial and technological support to help ASEAN countries accelerate their efforts to decarbonise their economies and combat global climate change.<br />''  <br />'' Japanese Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said that Japan will take a lead in providing generous support in finance, technology and personal resources to help Asia's decarbonisation.<br />'' According to media reports, Japan aims to turn into the world's leading hydrogen economy to reduce dependence on traditional polluting fossil fuels such as coal and oil.<br />''  <br />'' As the Chair of the Group of Seven nations (G7) this year, Japan will hold a ministerial meeting on climate, energy and environment in the city of Sapporo on the 15-16th of April this year.