The New Zealand government Friday committed to a controversial greenhouse gas emissions target of 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, with critics claiming it had reneged on a higher commitment made in 2010.

"Our 2020 target is more ambitious than our Kyoto Protocol first commitment period target, compares favorably with our traditional partners' actions and reflects New Zealand's unique national circumstances," Climate Change Minister Tim Groser said in a statement.

"The target is affordable and demonstrates that New Zealand is doing its fair share to address global climate change. In deciding this target, the government has carefully balanced the cost to New Zealand households and businesses against taking ambitious action to tackle climate change."

New Zealand was setting the 2020 target under the UN Framework Convention, the Kyoto Protocol's parent body, rather than the Kyoto Protocol itself, from which New Zealand withdrew late last year.

This means New Zealand was taking a target alongside developed and developing countries that were collectively responsible for more than 70 percent of global emissions.

"It's important to remember that we're working towards a binding agreement under the convention that, from 2020, will apply to all parties," said Groser.

In February 2010, the government submitted under the Copenhagen Accord a conditional emissions reduction target range of 10 percent to 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.

The opposition Green Party branded the weakened reduction target a disgrace.

"As a small country, New Zealand is reliant on major global emitters to reduce their emissions in order to avoid serious consequences of human caused climate change. We can't expect them to act to save our bacon while we freeload," Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said in a statement.

The main opposition Labour Party said the announcement would further erode New Zealand's international reputation on environmental issues.

"We are the last developed country to announce a target -- a target which was due last year -- and we still haven't seen any plan as to how the government expects to achieve even this very modest reduction," Labour climate change spokesperson Moana Mackey said in a statement. Endi

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