‘Climate change a security threat’

WELLINGTON: New Zealand has released a defence policy statement calling climate change its greatest security threat and stressing the importance of the issue to the Pacific region, which is seeing increased influence from China.

It said working with Pacific island countries on climate change was an opportunity to strengthen ties. The emergence of China as a key aid donor and major lender for Pacific countries has led to friction between the Asian giant and Western nations.

New Zealand announced a NZ$100 million (R967m) fund to to cut greenhouse emissions.