When councillors unanimously passed the motion on Monday night, the big crowd in the public gallery started clapping loudly.

The councillors voted that the council itself try reach the zero emissions target by 2030.

The city-wide target remained 2050 but with a view to review it and bring it inline with the council's 2030 net-zero emissions target.

The decision pleased many in the public gallery, who expressed anger in September when the council voted to defer its decision on setting a target of 2050 for the council, and the city, to reach zero net emissions.

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Before the meeting climate change protesters rallied outside council chambers.

Two members from Illawarra Climate Justice Alliance, George Takacs and Isabella Todd, as well as Greg Knight also addressed the council meeting.

ICJ organiser Ben Gava was happy man.

"While the delay in adopting targets has been deeply frustrating for the people of Wollongong, we are glad that the council staff seem to have listened to the action on our streets and the hundreds of submissions sent in by the community over the online forum," he said.

"The council recognised that we're in a crisis by declaring a climate emergency in August. Crises require decisive action and the time for that action is now."

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The target passed by the council fit with the pledge struck by the Global Convenant of Mayors.

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Councillors also agreed that the council develop a Climate Change Mitigation Action Plan in collaboration with key stakeholders to assist all sectors of the community achieve the emissions reduction target for the Wollongong local government area.

Council will also join the Cities Power Partnership Program.

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