Federal Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor slammed the actions of the opposition,saying it was"symbolism"and not practical.
The opposition's climate spokesman Mark Butler told colleagues during a caucus meeting on Tuesday morning he would lodge a motion for debate in Parliament declaring a climate emergency,as an internal rift over its future policy settings divides the party following its May election loss.
Mr Taylor said the"emotive language"was ignoring the practical needs of every day Australians.
"Labor is making a huge song and dance about declaring a climate emergency,but refuses to commit to a single policy in this area from the last election,"he said.
"Labor's hollow symbolism will not deliver a single tonne of emissions reduction ... by contrast this government is taking meaningful actions."
Followingfierce debate late on Monday night at separate factional caucus meetings over comments from frontbencher Joel Fitzgibbon last week,Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the party would decide its targets and policy"in accordance with the science".