Kat Bennett said she was only likely to put a notice of motion for an emergency declaration if there was a groundswell of support from ratepayers.

"This needs to come from the community, there needs to be a level of community support," Cr Bennett said.

In July Indigo Council became the only North East and Border council to declare a climate emergency after past mayor Larry Goldsworthy put up a motion.

Albury deputy mayor and Greens member Amanda Cohn this week succeeded in pushing her council to adopt greater carbon emission reduction targets.

Cr Bennett said she was likely to follow the approach of her friend Cr Cohn and aim for greater cuts to carbon levels.

The Victorian government has a legislated target of zero emissions by 2050 which the Wodonga Council is entwined in.

"There's no chance of meeting state government targets unless something dramatic happens," Cr Bennett said of the city's outlook.

She said a plan, involving Wodonga entering into contracts with 41 other Victorian municipalities to buy 100 per cent renewable energy would be significant but it was not expected to be finalised until the election of a new council at the end of 2020.

Meanwhile, Albury-raised NSW Labor MP Kate Washington is daring the state Coalition government to ban single-use plastic bags.

The Opposition's environment spokeswoman's challenge follows a Labor-initiated bill for the ban passing the NSW Upper House on Thursday 18 votes to 16.

The bill will now move to the Lower House for debate in two weeks.

Ms Washington said it would be the third chance for the Coalition government to follow other states, including Victoria, and outlaw the bags.

"The government has failed to act on this for years and now we're giving them another opportunity," Ms Washington said.

She noted Environment Minister Matt Kean told parliament earlier this month "some 50 million plastic bags end up in our oceans and waterways every year, so we have to ban the bag".

However, Mr Kean added "we also need to encourage people to reuse and recycle the bag".

Nationals Upper House MP Ben Franklin said the government was pursuing a total approach to litter rather than targeting one item.

He defended the government's environment record by pointing to its container deposit scheme, an initiative Victoria is holding out on introducing.