The Green Party has suggested that not significantly increasing carbon taxes in the upcoming Budget would be an utter failure.
Deputy Leader Catherine Martin has accused Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil of "battling it out" to see how little they can do to.
The Government is understood to be considering a smaller than expected rise in carbon tax in next month's Budget - potentially a five or six euro per tonne increase.
The tax currently stands at €20 a tonne, and an increase would impact the price of fuel, coal and briquettes.
Deputy Martin said a small increase would be a mistake, adding that the two main parties should aim to be more ambitious with their climate efforts.
On the carbon tax, she argued: "I think we should be doubling what it is currently at - that's what's being recommended, and that's what should be done.
"You can't gamble with this, and I think it's appalling that they are gambling for 'how low can they go' when it comes to climate action."
She added that Ireland should be "aiming high" when it comes to climate action.
Earlier this year, the cross-party Oireachtas Committee on Climate Change proposed raising the carbon tax from €20 to €80 per tonne by 2030.
It also proposed that the proceeds from the tax should be "ring-fenced" - recommending that the public should be consulted on whether to "return the revenue to citizens equally as a carbon dividend or to spend it in a targeted manner which addresses fuel poverty and supports climate actions".
