The experts have warned that we have just 12 years to avoid climate catastrophe.

With this dire message in mind, it was promising that two motions I've put forward to act on climate change have been supported by a majority of Ballarat councillors.

In 2017, City of Ballarat Council set a target for carbon neutrality and 100 per cent renewables by 2025 and agreed to develop an action plan.

In 2018, we also acknowledged climate emergency and agreed to prioritise climate action.

This week, Ballarat councillors unanimously endorsed an action plan which will further bring to life organisational efforts, also encouraging community and businesses to act.

Now that there is consensus from Ballarat Council on this issue, the community will be closely watching our progress on funding and implementing actions in the plan.

Priorities include transitioning to efficient LED street lighting; retrofitting major buildings and facilities with solar panels to make them more energy efficient; purchasing green energy, implementing the urban forest action plan by planting more trees; switching vehicles to electric/sustainable alternatives; and encouraging sustainable transport.

There is no doubt that widespread political will and meaningful action on climate change has been far too long coming.

In the 1990s, the United Nations was raising the need for protection of the ozone layer.

In 1996, Bob Brown's maiden speech as a Greens Senator in parliament addressed the threat of climate change.

Government and opposition members laughed at the warnings of sea level rises.

Fast forward to 2019 and there is relative consensus that climate change poses an enormous threat.

The threat lies in more extreme weather events: severe bushfires, droughts and heatwaves, sea level rises, population displacement, and impacts on food security.

A large section of the community are now on board and recognise the need for decisive and rapid action.

The student Strike for Climate movement is impressive.

Like many others, I found it incredibly heartening to see hundreds of students and supporters at the Ballarat student strikes late last year and again a few weeks ago.

This movement comes at a time when it has never been clearer that urgent action is needed at all levels of government, across society, all business, corporate, and community sectors.

While the situation is urgent, it's not all doom and gloom.

There are high ambition cities, towns, regions and communities like ours across the globe stepping up and leading the way by driving down emissions.

The upside is that most of the measures that we need to undertake to act on climate change have positive benefits for communities, health and well-being, future jobs and the environment.

However, it's ultimately the fact that we depend on clean air, water and the natural environment for our very existence that creates the most pressing need.

We must work harder to value and protect these things for future generations and reduce the risks associated with extreme weather events.

There is broad acceptance that we need urgent political action on climate change to protect future generations from these threats.

The message from global scientists and the United Nations is that we are facing a state of climate emergency.

It's clear that many in the community are already acting and making changes in their homes, community groups and businesses.

Many are frustrated at the lack of decisive political action and are taking the message to the streets to press politicians at all levels of government to act.

At 1pm on Sunday, April 14 community members will Walk Against Warming at a Lake Wendouree event organised by BREAZE and Ballarat Climate Action Network.

It's almost 13 years ago since the first Walk Against Warming at the same location, and the need for action is even more urgent.

Cr Belinda Coates is a City of Ballarat councillor.