The government has announced that it will make the use of biofuels mandatory for cars, trucks, trains and ships to reduce emissions in the transportation sector.

Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods announced on Wednesday that a mandate on sustainable biofuels would come into effect on April 1, 2023.

“Biofuels offer a practical, low-emission solution to reducing emissions from New Zealand’s transport sector and will be scaled up over time, resulting in greater emission reductions from transport fuels,” said Woods .

Fuel wholesalers – those who import or refine fuels first – must reduce their total greenhouse gas emissions for the transportation fuels they sell by 1.2% in 2023, then by 2.4% in 2024, then 3.5% in 2025, by replacing part of their biofuel supply.

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“Ground transportation accounts for almost half of all our national carbon dioxide emissions and we need to take action to start mitigating the impact of transportation on climate change,” said Woods.

She predicted that the mandate would prevent around one million tonnes of emissions over the next three years.

“Biofuels mandates are common overseas, with over 60 jurisdictions having them; we had one on the cards over a decade ago, but it was repealed before it came into effect, ”Woods said.

Transport Minister Michael Wood said this would reduce emissions from the transport sector while the rest of the Clean car package “revs up”. This includes discounts for electric vehicles, more chargers along national highways, and a push to import more environmentally friendly cars.

“We need to shift to low emission vehicles, and biofuels will help reduce emissions as we make that transition,” he said. “Biofuels have the potential to stimulate economic recovery by fostering local industry and creating jobs. “

A separate mandate for aviation fuel would be developed next year; The Ministry of Enterprise, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) was working with Air New Zealand on a study to determine the potential for sustainable aviation fuel production at the national level.

New Zealand Statistics shows that national aviation greenhouse gas emissions in 2018 increased by 12% compared to 2017 and by 17.7% compared to 1990. They accounted for 3.2% of all aviation dioxide emissions. carbon in 2018.