The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's latest report found the effects of climate change are already being felt - and they are widespread, rapid and intensifying.

Released this week, the report found that many of the changes observed by scientists worldwide were unprecedented in thousands of years, and some - such as sea level rises - would take hundreds of years, at least, to reverse.

Read more: What will save these Illawarrra coastal homes from erosion?

The IPCC found that "strong and sustained reductions" in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases would limit the impact, but if not, limiting warming to even two degrees "will be beyond reach".

"The latest information is quite disturbing but not without some course of action that's still possible," Cr Rice said.

"We really all need to consider how we can act to address climate change.

"It's reassuring that council has recently adopted a net-zero emissions policy by 2030. That's just from council operations alone, but following that council will engage in a conversation with the community to see how they can contribute to reducing emissions across the whole municipality.

"[Our role] is just to keep the conversation going in Kiama, to alert people that we are on a three degrees warming trajectory, and that's not habitable, and not what we want for our children and future generations."

Illawarra environmental group Protect Our Water Alliance said the news must mean the end of the coal industry in Australia.

"The future described in the latest IPCC report is a more extreme, unstable and unfair future for our communities," spokeswoman Dr Rada Germanos said.

"Our water catchment and water security will become more precious and important in a climate-changed future, yet our governments continue to allow highly destructive mining within it."

"This IPCC report lays bare the double-speak of mining companies that pretend to care for country and communities, whilst profiteering from climate catastrophe. We demand a permanent ban on mining in our water catchments, deep and sincere cuts to greenhouse gas emissions in our heavy industries, and robust transition plans for our communities."

Leading coal lobbyist the NSW Minerals Council said there was "a role to play" for miners.

"We acknowledge that sustained global action is required to reduce the risks of human-induced climate change," a spokesman said in a statement.

"The NSW Minerals Council supports a measured transition to a low emissions global economy.

"Access to reliable and affordable energy is central to the long-term sustainable success of our economy.

"All sectors of the economy have a role to play in meeting the challenge of Australia's emissions reductions targets, including the resources sector."

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