It’s a world first: Denmark will tax the farts and burps of cows, sheep and pigs

It’s a world first: Denmark will tax the farts and burps of cows, sheep and pigs
It’s a world first: Denmark will tax the farts and burps of cows, sheep and pigs

This Monday, June 24, 2024, Denmark formalized its project of a tax on “greenhouse gases emitted by cows, sheep and pigs”.

From 2030, Denmark will tax breeders for the greenhouse gases emitted by their cows, sheep and pigs, the agency reported this Wednesday, June 26 APIt is the first country to do so as it targets a major source of methane emissions, one of the most potent gases contributing to global warming.

The goal is to reduce Denmark’s greenhouse gas emissions by 70% compared to 1990 levels by 2030, Tax Minister Jeppe Bruus said.

Concretely, from 2030, Danish breeders will be taxed at 300 crowns (40.23 euros) per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent. The tax will increase to 750 crowns (100.58 euros) by 2035. But with the deduction of income tax at 60% the real cost per tonne will start at 120 crowns (16.09 euros) and increase to 300 crowns by 2035.

Produced by belching

According to APlivestock represents About 32% of methane emissions are from human sources, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. Almost all of the methane produced by livestock farming, 90%, comes from digestion, through fermentation, and is released as burps from the mouth. Most of this methane emitted by cows is produced by belching. Most of the remaining 10% comes from manure ponds on pig and cattle farms.

“We will take a big step towards climate neutrality in 2045”Bruus said, adding that Denmark “will be the first country in the world to introduce a real CO2 tax on agriculture” and hopes that other countries will follow this example.

The tax must be approved by the 179-seat Folketing, or parliament, but the bill is expected to pass after broad consensus.

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