Federal Parliament has voted down an attempt to declare a "climate emergency", with the Morrison government blocking a "grand symbolic gesture" from the Greens, Labor and the crossbench.

Victorian Greens MP Adam Bandt brought on a vote in the lower house on Tuesday, buoyed by Labor's announcement it would back the push.

A climate change rally sets up outside Parliament House on Tuesday. Credit:AAP

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.