Oman Daily Observer

NZ military braces for climate change battle

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WELLINGTON: The New Zealand Defence Force identified climate change as one of its biggest security challenges on Thursday, warning that responding to global warming will increasing­ly stretch its resources.

The NZDF said the impact of climate change in the neighbouri­ng Pacific islands promised to be so extreme that providing humanitari­an assistance could limit its ability to perform its traditiona­l defence roles.

“With the intensifyi­ng impacts of climate change... New Zealand may be faced with concurrent operationa­l commitment­s, which could stretch resources and reduce readiness for other requiremen­ts,” it said in a report examining climate’s impact on the military.

The NZDF has already played a major part in helping Pacific island nations such as Vanuatu and Fiji following devastatin­g cyclones blamed on man-made global warming.

The report said problems in the Pacific would only worsen, bringing the potential for food and water shortages, land disputes arising from climate migration and more violent storm disasters.

“When the effects of climate change intersect with a complex array of environmen­tal and social issues, they can be a significan­t contributo­r to both low-level and more violent conflict,” it said.

“The security implicatio­ns of climate change are further magnified in areas dealing with weak governance or corruption.”

Climate Change Minister James Shaw said the military’s role was changing.

“More and more, their battles seem to be about fighting the aftermath of extreme weather events, which fewer and fewer people these days are trying to argue are not part of the impact of climate change,” he said.

New Zealand has lifted its presence in the Pacific this year, partly in response to China’s growing role in the region, which Wellington sees as falling within its sphere of influence.

 ?? — AFP ?? The NZDF has played a major part in helping Pacific island nations such as Vanuatu following devastatin­g cyclones blamed on man-made global warming.
— AFP The NZDF has played a major part in helping Pacific island nations such as Vanuatu following devastatin­g cyclones blamed on man-made global warming.

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