Under the Paris Agreement, New Zealand has already pledged to slash its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent from 2005 levels and 11 per cent from 1990 levels by 2030.
The Government has also begun setting up an independent Climate Change Commission, tasked with recommending interim emissions reduction targets and providing advice on issues, including how to transition to 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2035.
"Now is the time for government to build the legal and policy framework to ensure that this happens, and to make sure that the transition is fair and just for all New Zealanders," WWF-New Zealand chief executive Livia Esterhazy said.
"Two years ago, we delivered another open letter on climate change to the previous climate minister, Paula Bennett. It was signed by 65 businesses, community groups and influential Kiwis.
"We're blown away to have more than three times as many signing this time."
It comes as the Government begins a nationwide series of public meetings to hear peoples' views on the Zero Carbon Bill, as part of wider consultation around the legislation.
"We all know that making a plan for climate action now will pay off in the long term," Shaw said.
"Communities, businesses, farmers, iwi and ordinary New Zealanders up and down the country are already doing what they can to reduce emissions or are ready to get on board and help draw up our plan to reduce New Zealand's impact on the climate."
Under present projections, the sea level around New Zealand is expected to rise between 30cm and 100cm this century, while temperatures could also increase by several degrees by 2100.
Climate change would bring more floods; make our freshwater problems worse; and put more pressure on rivers and lakes; acidify our oceans; put even more species at risk and bring problems from the rest of the world.
Climate change was also expected to result in more large storms, compounding the effects of sea-level rise.
