The German government approved a draft law on Wednesday to set a more ambitious target for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector, aiming for 2030 levels to be 22% below those in 1990.
That compares with a current target of just over 6%.
Transport is a laggard compared with the electricity and heating sectors where a greater degree of decarbonisation has been achieved as renewable energy sources replace fossil fuels.
The government has said the target should be achievable because the European Union has already agreed tough new emissions rules for private passenger car fleets as well as truck tolls linked to CO2 emissions.
Energy Minister Svenja Schulze said the new target was paired with goals to raise the share of renewable energy used in transport to 28% by 2030, helped by incentives for the use of electric cars, the production of green hydrogen from solar and wind power, and biofuels from waste.
She stressed the law would provide for the step-by-step reduction in the use of some biofuels, such as palm oil, from food crops or forests.
"I want to promote fuels that are efficient and affordable and that protect the climate without destroying nature," she said.
Jet fuels must include at least 2% of liquid fuel derived from renewable power via electrolysis by 2030.
The German law implements and well exceeds the targets of an EU renewable energy directive that demands a 14% share of renewable fuels by 2030 for the bloc.
The law must pass both houses of parliament.
(Reporting by Markus Wacket and Vera Eckert, editing by Kirsten Donovan)
