While many councils are declaring a climate emergency, a vote on a motion put forward by Greens Bega Valley Shire councillor Cathy Griff during this week's council meeting aims to go one step further, and push for council's upcoming Climate Resilience Strategy to recognise a climate emergency.

"My motion ties the emergency specifically to our council policy," Cr Griff said ahead of Wednesday's meeting.

"This is not just getting on the bandwagon and flying the flag, it is tied to practical action. I've kept it tied to what is essentially a message to council staff to make sure it is a priority."

According to the Climate Emergency Declaration and Mobilisation in Action group, which maps declarations made across the world, since Darebin council in 2016, 38 local governments in Australia have now declared a climate emergency.

Fifteen of these local governments are situated in NSW, and 31 declarations have been made this year alone. The ACT government has also declared a climate emergency.

"I don't know how people can keep questioning whether it is a local government issue, because you can easily see the good work councils all over Australia are doing," Cr Griff said.

"I don't think there is an awareness about what council has already done to combat climate change."

Almost four million people, or 15 per cent of Australians, now live in areas where an emergency has been declared, and more than 100 candidates in the recent federal election had signed the Climate Emergency Declaration petition.

However, not all councils are getting on board. Eurobodalla and the Snowy Mountains voted down the declaration of an emergency, and in July Wagga Wagga voted to rescind their declaration after two hours of debate.

"I feel that this notion of an emergency is very widely shared in our Shire," Cr Griff said.

"I am also very aware there is a whole section of our community where climate change is not a priority because they are struggling financially. I think if you asked them they would like to see their council do everything they can. I think people know it is an issue from the science, which isn't tough science, it can be taught at primary school."

Five years ago council officially accepted the modelling of climate scientists when they voted in favour of their Climate Change Strategy. The document revealed the local climate is likely to warm by 1 degree Celsius by the year 2030, with rainfall likely to decrease by around five per cent.

"The strategy is about us taking a precautionary position with a view to council and ratepayers' assets," mayor Bill Taylor said at the time.

Cr Griff said the recent unanimous passing of a clean energy strategy shows "council is doing a lot in this space".

"Council is in a privileged position of leadership and we can do a lot. We have the longest stretch of coast in NSW, which makes us very vulnerable," she said.