The call kicked off Global Climate Change Week, an event organised by academics, including Philosophy lecturer Dr Keith Horton.

"Some universities have taken big steps," Dr Horton said.

"Charles Sturt University is already carbon neutral and a number of other universities have at least made commitments to head in that direction as well, but UOW is lagging behind unfortunately."

Dr Horton said he would like to see the university declare a timeline for becoming carbon neutral as well as looking to divest from fossil fuel investments and introduce climate education throughout the university.

Other events over Global Climate Change Week featured talks from academics, including UOW climate scientist Kerrylee Rogers.

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She acknowledged the university's declaration of a climate emergency was a symbolic gesture, but said it added another voice to the chorus calling for action.

"The small contribution that the university will make will not actually mitigate climate change, but together, if we can motivate other universities, other organisation to do the same by taking this action, it means it makes a bigger impact," Dr Rogers said.

She said it was too late to stop sea levels rising; it was now about reducing the severity.

"Sea level rise is going to occur, even if we take immediate action and cut emissions straight away," she said. "We need to reduce the degree of impact that's occurring."

Prof Wellings praised the move to address "the crucially important issue of climate change" but added declaring a climate change emergency would take time.

""Any such declaration - beyond a symbolic gesture - would require careful consideration and broad consultation as the resulting actions over such a short time frame will have significant financial and practical implications for staff, students, contractors and the communities in which UOW operates," Prof Wellings said.