New Zealand has joined the Copenhagen Accord on climate change and has submitted its existing conditional 2020 emission reduction target, the government said on Monday.

Climate Change Minister Nick Smith said to Media on Monday New Zealand had submitted its original conditional target range of 10 percent to 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, Radio New Zealand reported.

"Joining this accord reinforces New Zealand's ongoing commitment to doing our fair share to resolve this global problem," Smith said.

The United Nations' summit on climate change in Copenhagen in December ended without a legally binding treaty.

However, a non-binding Copenhagen Accord was signed by more than 25 countries and requires them to submit emissions reduction targets for 2020 before February 1.

Another conference will be held in Mexico at the end of 2010.

However, Prime Minister John Key said at his post-cabinet press conference that New Zealand's target was conditional on comparable efforts by other countries, effective rules for land use and forestry, and the creation of an international carbon market.

He said expectations for the Mexico conference were not high and countries were still a long way from reaching agreement on a binding target.

(Xinhua News Agency February 2, 2010)