University of Waikato law student Sarah Thomson is suing the government for failing to set emissions targets that reflect the scientific consensus on climate change.

A law student is suing the government, after she claims it has failed to set appropriate targets for climate change reductions.

Sarah Thomson, from Hamilton, has filed a case with the High Court in Wellington against the government's Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser.

The 24-year-old claims the government has failed to set emissions targets that reflect the science on climate change and she is calling on the High Court to review New Zealand's emissions targets.

MIKE SCOTT/FAIRFAX NZ University of Waikato law student Sarah Thomson will learn whether she has a case against the government.

Thomson's bold move comes on the back of a defining ruling in the Netherlands where a group of environmentalists successfully sued the Dutch government for failing to properly act against climate change.

In a landmark decision, the Dutch courts ruled the government had been slack on its action to mitigate climate change and forced it to adopt more ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets.

"[From that case] I realised it wasn't just about the environment, it was about human rights - the right to safety, the right to security," Thomson said.

At a Paris conference in December, Groser will table the government's proposal to commit to a 11 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2030.

"Compare that to the European Union target which is 40 per cent beneath 1990," University of Waikato professor of international law, Alexander Gillespie said.

New Zealand followed different laws to the Netherlands, but Gillespie, said Thomson may still have a case.

"Their rights aren't better or worse - just different.

"It's not clear that the Dutch precedent would be followed, but the principle here is the same - that [climate change] is a serious problem.

"But whether she's right or wrong it's going in the right direction."

Groser is seeking legal advice from his officials about the case and would not comment further, a spokesperson for Groser said in a statement.

The case has been filed in the lead up to the 21st United Nations climate conference in Paris, where more than 190 countries will attempt to agree to a new international plan on climate change.

Thomson has just completed a law degree at the University of Waikato and said this is the first time she's taken a case to court.

"I want to be able to look my [future] children in the eye and say that I didn't just stand by and watch this happen.

"What I really hope to get out of this case is that the government is forced to review this decision and come out with a better target, also that they have that plan there to achieve that target."

While New Zealand's number, widely criticised by the Green Party and environmental groups, is "terribly conservative" it serves as a baseline in the likely negotiation that will happen in Paris, Gillespie said.

"It's like going to an auction and putting in a really bad bid. That bid will increase, hopefully as the process unfolds.

"If New Zealand sticks to the bid then yes she's absolutely right, the government has failed."

Thomson said the world's scientists agree climate change is real and that urgent action is needed, but failed to see the government taking it seriously.

"The science shows that New Zealand's emissions targets just aren't good enough to avoid dangerous climate change. Scientists agree that the reductions are too small and will take too long."

With all international pledges for emissions targets factored in, the globe would currently rise by 3 degrees Celsius - but the target needed to be shaved back to 2 degrees.

"Everyone has to increase their bids otherwise we're not going to meet that 2 degrees [limit]."

As well as emissions targets, Paris will also see countries pledge money to a climate change mitigation fund for developing nations to build infrastructure to reduce their emissions.

Gillespie said New Zealand's current offer, again, was incredibly low.

"The United States is pledging $10 per head to this fund, Australia $2 per head, whereas New Zealand is only pledging 57c per head," he said.

"So we're poor on the emissions targets, we're very poor on the fund."