The Climate Institute, the Australian Conservation Foundation and WWF Australia have written to both sides of politics this weekend, saying they would campaign against the scheme if further compensation was given to polluting industries.

"You either believe in an emissions trading system or you don't," Climate Institute executive director John Connor said.

"It's not effective or responsible to give windfall gains to booming coal miners or to give billions extra to businesses who bought brown coal-fired generators knowing a carbon price was coming."

The move would leave the Government with no green endorsement for its scheme, which has been designed partly in response to community pressure for action on climate change.

Last week Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull staked his leadership on the issue, saying any party that did not take global warming seriously faced an electoral wipeout.

His acting emissions trading spokesman, Ian Macfarlane, said Mr Turnbull was "right to put his foot down".

Mr Macfarlane said the party room would get a say on the strategy pursued by the Opposition but that those MPs against the scheme should not think only of themselves.

"There was some tilting of windmills but they should think about the image they put out to voterland."

He challenged senators such as Cory Bernardi to stand by their opposition to an emissions trading scheme and take their chances with the electorate.

"If we go to a double dissolution then those senators who say we should oppose it should have the courage of their convictions and go last [on the Senate ticket].

"I love to see conviction politics."

Mr Turnbull's backers, who include Joe Hockey and Bill Heffernan, have been ringing MPs to shore up support ahead of a party room meeting to be held when Parliament resumes on October 19.

The Opposition's amendments will include further concessions for the coal industry, agriculture and food processors.

It is likely to propose agriculture be exempted for another decade or even left out of the scheme entirely.