The Group of Eight countries plan to pledge at their July summit in Italy that they will help developing countries develop solar and wind power generation, Japanese government sources said Tuesday.
The G8 members also are considering further promoting measures to counter global warming and expanding the use of electricity, the sources said.
The plans will be announced at the G8 summit in Genoa, Italy, from July 20 to July 22, they said. The G8 comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.
It will be the first time the G8 countries have come up with measures, such as grants, to promote energy from natural sources to help alleviate poverty in developing countries.
The G8 members plan to extend grants to developing countries to help them build equipment that can generate electricity from wind and animal waste.
They also are looking at providing them with technological assistance in the energy field.
The G8 countries will provide the funds and technology through the United Nations or the Paris-based International Energy Agency.
A G8 working group will finalize the plan during a Tokyo meeting later this month, before reporting to G8 leaders during the Genoa summit.
The working group is cochaired by a top Italian Environment Ministry official and an executive at the Royal Dutch/Shell Group.