Local governments say they are being left out of Australia’s efforts to address and respond to climate change.

Speaking after a meeting of the Global Covenant of Mayors Oceania, Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) President Linda Scott said the impacts of global warming and sea-level rise are increasingly being felt in cities, towns, and regions across the county.

As a result, many local communities are calling for climate action to be stepped up.

“A recent report from the ICLEI, or the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, revealed that if all the targets set by Australian local governments were met CO2 emissions would be reduced by an incredible 88,200 kilotonnes,” Cr Scott said.

“This would bring Australia 96 percent of the way to meeting its current target of a 28 percent reduction by 2030.

“Australian local governments are conducting risk assessments, collaborating with industry on developing innovative solutions to our changing climate, reducing our reliance on dangerous fossil fuels, and rolling out new initiatives to cool cities and urban growth areas,” Cr Scott said.

Having identified potential solutions to the range of challenges, the lobby says mny councils need additional resources to implement targeted local projects that help communities transition to a low-carbon future

Ahead of the next federal election, ALGA wants the next Australian government to support communities in their climate change response by investing in a Local Government Climate Change Partnership Fund of $200 million per annum over four years.

ALGA is also seeking a targeted disaster mitigation program at the level of $200 million per annum for four years to strengthen community resilience response and recovery costs.

Analysis commissioned by the lobby indicates these two investment initiatives would deliver a cumulative Gross Domestic Product benefit of over $350 million while creating up to 2350 new jobs.

Cr Scott said the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) had acknowledged the importance of sub-national governments, including local governments, in addressing and responding to climate change.

COP26, which will be held in Glasgow in November, will again likely highlight the contributions of city and municipal governments in undertaking ambitious climate actions.