Scientists have voiced concern as a study published on Friday showed New Zealand species were among the most vulnerable to climate-induced extinction.

Describing the study as "impressive and very sobering," Nic Rawlence, director of the Otago Palaeogenetics Laboratory, University of Otago, said the globally unique biodiversity was at serious risk of going extinct due to human-induced climate change.

"New Zealand has been singled out. We are in the climate firing line and the government needs to listen," Rawlence said.

The study, based on a global analysis of 30 years of research and published in the world-leading scientific journal, Science, found that under a projected 2.7 degrees Celsius of global warming, one in 20 species will be at risk of extinction globally, with amphibians.

Rawlence called for conserving species most at risk, as there can be a long lag time between the climatic impact and eventual extinction, which can allow time for species to adapt to climate change.

Julie Deslippe, senior lecturer in Plant Ecology, Victoria University of Wellington, said the findings for New Zealand are alarming as it is among the few countries where climate change could drive extinction rates above 25 percent. Amphibians are especially at risk, as nearly half of New Zealand's native frogs are extinct with the remaining declining or threatened.

Among the key drivers of species decline, climate change stands out, not only for its direct impacts, such as drought, fires, extreme weather, but also for amplifying other threats, such as land conversion, invasive pests and diseases, Deslippe said.