Kaeleigh Peard will speak during public forum before the Tuesday, August 13 meeting in support of Councillor Pat McGinlay's motion that the council declare a climate emergency.

"Until our council actually acknowledges there is a problem, it seems highly unlikely we're going to do anything meaningful in the longer term," Cr McGinlay said on August 12.

"We already do some good things, however there's a heck of a lot more we could be doing, and also helping the community to focus their efforts."

He said the council's first step was to admit there was a problem, and then start looking for solutions.

On Monday night, Wollongong City Council became the 32^nd council in local government to declare climate emergency.

More details when the debate is completed and the result is known

This blog of the public forum that began before the meeting may take a moment to load, it's worth the short wait. We'll bring you the result in a subsequent story.