Germany’s federal council, the Bundesrat, has passed a resolution calling for a ban on combustion engine cars by 2030.
If the ban were to go through, German citizens would only be permitted to purchase electric or hydrogen-fuelled cars.
The resolution, which has received cross-party support but has no legislative effect, calls on the European Commission to implement the ban across the European Union.
It also urges the European Commission to “review the current practices of taxation and dues with regard to a stimulation of emission-free mobility.”
Greens party lawmaker Oliver Krischer said the ban is needed to reach the requirements put forward in the Paris agreement.
“If the Paris agreement to curb climate-warming emissions is to be taken seriously, no new combustion engine cars should be allowed on roads after 2030,” Mr Krischer told Spiegel.
A switch to zero-emission cars is likely to put thousands of German auto industry jobs at risk as electric cars only require 10 per cent of the work force to assemble.
