Singapore has ratified the Paris Agreement, thus formally committing itself to reducing climate change.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan deposited Singapore's instrument of ratification at the United Nations headquarters in New York yesterday.

The Republic has pledged to reduce its emissions intensity, which is the ratio of carbon emissions to each dollar of the gross domestic product, by 36 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 and stabilise emissions with the aim of peaking around 2030.

In April, Singapore was one of 175 countries to sign the Paris Agreement.

The Republic is also on track to meet its existing commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 16 per cent by 2020, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in a statement to the media yesterday .

In July, Singapore unveiled its Climate Action Plan to meet its targets under the Paris Agreement, outlining various measures to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and enhance resilience to climate change.

"Improving energy efficiency will continue to be Singapore's key strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said the MFA, adding that energy efficiency would be enhanced across all sectors, including power generation, industry and transport.

In a Facebook post, Dr Balakrishnan said the ratification of the agreement was a "profound and moving journey" for the team of negotiators from various ministries undertaken over a number of years.

He added: "We may only be a tiny state, but we made a positive contribution in a quiet but effective way."