Australian cities are declaring a 'climate emergency', but does that actually mean anything?

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has declared a "climate emergency" on behalf of the Sydney local government.

Extinction Rebellion has called for honesty and action
from media and government on climate change.

This makes Sydney the 26th Australian local government to do so, after the UK became the first country to declare a climate emergency in early May, following weeks of climate-change street protests.

Ireland, France, and Canada have now added their signatures to the cause, and nearly half of New Zealand's local governments have also joined more than 600 local, state and federal governments worldwide.

So does the declaration of a climate emergency actually carry any weight? Is it hollow symbolism? Or is it something else?

Read the ABC News story by Nick Kilvert - “Australian cities are declaring a 'climate emergency', but does that actually mean anything?”