The peak body for local government in Australia has asked for $50 million in next month’s federal budget to help councils realise their emissions reduction plans – something they say is being held back only by lack of funds.

A priority budget submission from ALGA says councils are key to the federal government achieving its legislated emission reduction targets.

It argues that local government across the country has been at the forefront of climate action for the last 20 years.

ALGA says surveys show about three quarters of Australian councils have set or are planning emission reduction targets, and the only thing holding them back is funding.

“Local governments across the nation have been leading climate action and reducing their carbon footprints for more than 20 years,” President Linda Scott said in a statement.

“As the sphere of government closest to the community, local governments are critical to empowering communities and creating a sustainable, prosperous future for Australia – as well as helping the Government achieve its target of net zero emissions by 2050.”

The submission lists a number of practical initiatives councils can implement with an allocation of $50 million over four years, including:

• transitioning to electric fleets

• supporting local economies transitioning to clean energy

• increasing tree canopy

• retrofitting council buildings and assets

• upgrading street lighting

• establishing community batteries

• rolling out low-emission transport

A snapshot of council action on climate change released by the Cities Power Partnership (CPP) in February says councils have made 755 local government pledges on climate action and emissions reduction, including 92 that were either completed or being being evaluated last year.

Meanwhile, a 2021 review by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) found 73 per cent of councils had set or were planning ambition corporate or operational emission reduction targets; 80 per cent had set or were investigating community-wide emissions targets; and almost a third had a fossil fuel divestment commitment or plan to implement one.

According to the ICLE report, 83 per cent of respondents reported that climate change had already affected their community or council, while only 10 per cent felt the council or community was well-prepared to respond.

Nine in ten said they had the support of their communities to take climate action.

However the CPP says councils are being held back by lack of funding and resources, with its 2022 snapshot finding more than eighty per cent are struggling with lack of staff and 64 per cent face budgetary restrictions.

Almost one in three CPP members said they had less than two employees dedicated to sustainability.

ICLEI estimates that 88,200 kt of emissions could be cut if all the targets set by Australian local governments were met, bringing Australia 96 per cent of the way to meeting its current target of 28 per cent reduction by 2030.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers will hand down the Budget on May 9.