The Government will not meet the deadline in the Copenhagen Accord to provide a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, says Prime Minister John Key.
The non-binding accord, which was noted at the Copenhagen climate change conference in December, says those who sign up will take action to limit the global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celcius.
The accord requires countries to submit emissions reduction targets for 2020, before 1 February.
Mr Key says the Government still proposes a target range of 10% to 20% below 1990 levels, but it will not specify the exact target before the February deadline.
He says the target is contingent on gains being made through forestry rules under the Kyoto Protocol.
The Government will eventually sign the accord, he says, but will work its way through negotiations first.
