In response to a public question taken on notice in February the council's general manager John Jordan said specific local impacts of climate change were uncertain, but it made sense to minimise pollution and environmental impacts.

"Council's efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change need to be relevant to our community, industry and local circumstance," he said.

"It is appropriate to incorporate climate change responses into existing planning, risk management and other business practices rather than developing a separate climate emergency plan."

Instead of a climate emergency plan a Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Policy will be decided on at the council's March 10 meeting.

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It is recommended for approval and the proposed policy hits four points.

The first is for the council to acknowledge the world's climate is changing due to increasing concentrations of greenhouse emissions in the atmosphere.

The second is that all levels of government, industry and the community need to minimise greenhouse gas emissions. Coordinated and integrated action is needed to mitigate and adapt to climate change and the council supports the state and Federal government acting to contribute to global climate change mitigation in a way that responsibly achieves environmental, economic and social sustainability.

The third is for the council to recognise that while the specific local impacts of climate change are uncertain, it makes sense to minimise pollution and related environmental impacts and adapt to emerging and future risks arising from climate change.

The fourth is to ensure the council will be within the limits of its capacity to work with government, neighbouring regional councils, industry and the community to reduce greenhouse emissions and manage the economic, social and environmental risks from climate change.

The council voted against declaring a climate emergency at its December meeting.

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