UPDATED 3.42PM New Zealand has ratified the ground-breaking Paris Agreement on climate change.

The agreement covers more than 90 per cent of the world's emissions with 188 countries taking part in the negotiations held in France in December last year.

New Zealand signed the document which has the aim of keeping global temperature rise well below 2°C.

Climate change Minister Paula Bennett said the ratification demonstrated New Zealand's commitment to global action on climate change.

"Although New Zealand contributes only a small proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions, the early timing of our ratification enables us to join the group of countries that make up 55 per cent of global emissions - the minimum needed to get this agreement across the line. Our contribution counts."

New Zealand has pledged to reduce emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.

Though Greenpeace says New Zealand's commitment to a global climate change deal is PR spin and not worth the paper it's signed on.

Climate campaigner Kate Simcock said the agreement marks a move from disputing scientific evidence, to taking climate change seriously.

But she said the carbon emissions New Zealand has agreed to are nowhere near enough to stop dangerous levels of climate change.

She said it doesn't require businesses or the everyday New Zealander to do anything different. In fact people are making an effort on their own, and living more sustainably is a growing trend.

There's frustration the Government's trying to back-peddle from an embarrassing few years that have thrown New Zealand out of the clean, green paradise club.

Ms Simcock said at the Paris talks last year New Zealand was awarded the first 'Fossil Fool' award for having the worst response to climate change.

"New Zealand's response to climate change has been appalling, it's a PR stunt and the National Government is ruining our international reputation when it comes to the climate."

She said the government's refusing to force the closure of New Zealand's last coal processing plants, allowing power companies to penalise people for using solar and using fraudulent tax credits.

"The extent of National's climate change plan is to keep oil drilling, fracking, burning coal and off set our pollution by trading fraudulent carbon credits, it's a complete sham."

She added climate change is right on our doorstep.

"Our neighbours in the Pacific are the first and worst effected and we should be doing everything we can to help them."

She said until Paula Bennett does something real such as closing down New Zealand's last remaining coal burners in Huntly - the paper it's signed on is meaningless.

The New Zealand Youth Delegation agrees and says while the ratification is a good sign, it lacks any real plan to get there.

Co-convenor Erica Finnie said New Zealand's shown up to the party just in the nick of time, but doesn't have anything to show for itself.

“Ratification simply says that New Zealand wants a seat at the table, but we need meaningful targets to show real commitment.”

She said New Zealand must be an ally to states in the Pacific who're fighting for their survival.

“The Agreement gives New Zealand the opportunity for innovation within the global solution, to step up to the plate and bat for those suffering the consequences of climate change right now."

While they support ratification of the deal, Labour and the Greens said it was just the starting gun.

"We're pleased the government has acted swiftly but the real challenge starts now: to reverse the massive rise in carbon emissions that has occurred in New Zealand over the past two decades," said Green co-leader James Shaw.

"National needs to re-think its economic strategy - carbon emissions have increased 19 per cent under this government and they're still talking about expanding pollution-intensive industries like oil, gas and intensive dairy farming."

Labour MP Megan Woods said her party has reservations about the economic modelling the Government's used in its emissions reduction strategies, and its heavy reliance on the purchase of international carbon credits.

"We also have a very heavy reliance on purchasing international credits when really we don't even know the rules that will govern them and their availability, or what kind of price we're going to be facing for them post 2020."

Woods said they believe there should be a more ambitious emission reduction target.

"The New Zealand target isn't in line with meeting the two degree target."

Business NZ says early ratification puts New Zealand in a good negotiating position for future UN climate change decision-making.

"New Zealand's emissions profile is different from other countries," said environment policy manager John Carnegie.

"Our continuing need is to maintain the competitiveness of New Zealand businesses while meeting our emissions reduction targets."

He said it's important New Zealand has a voice on the rules that matter to us most - agriculture, forestry and carbon markets.

Additional reporting by NZ Newswire