The group, which formed about two weeks ago and has about 40 members, turned out on Monday night to witness Warrnambool City Council declare a climate emergency.

Member Steve Veale said the group had met twice over the past two weeks and formed out of frustration with government inaction.

"We demand they tell the truth: that there is a climate emergency," Mr Veale said.

He said Monday night's vote was about getting a ground swell of people who believe the scientists and the more councils that come on board, the more pressure was put on the federal and state governments.

"There's a whole lot of action this week world wide in all the major cities with Extinction Rebellion, regretfully causing some disruption," Mr Veale said.

"We don't like doing that but we must be noticed and the truth must come out and action has to happen."

He said the group had not ruled out taking direct action at some point, but it was not in its plan at this stage.

The group, he said, was made up of a range of people including grandmothers, kids, parents, teachers, unit lecturers, writers, artists and managers.

Member Jane Holland said that a declaration of a climate emergency by council was not just purely on paper, but was about looking at where we go from here.

"It's almost like an emergency as would be any type of war of any sort. It's a war against climate catastrophe," she said.

A forum for action on the climate emergency will be held on October 24 at the Archie Graham Centre from 6.30pm-8.30pm.

It is being organised by a number of climate groups and the public is invited.

Mr Veale said Extinction Rebellion had three aims: to get governments to tell the truth and declare a climate and ecological emergency; government action to reach zero net emissions by 2025; and a citizens' assembly to advise the government.

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