The Scandinavian country proposed a “flatulence tax”, which received support from the entire sector and is expected to be approved by the national Parliament.
Denmark will impose a tax on farmers for the greenhouse gases emitted by their cows, sheep and pigs from 2030according to a new and radical proposal from the Danish Government, led by social democrat Mette Frederiksen.
Tax Minister Jeppe Bruus declared that the plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of the northern European country by 70% by 2030.
“We will take a big step towards climate neutrality in 2045“Declared Bruus, adding that Denmark “will be the first country in the world to introduce a real tax on CO2 emissions in agriculture.” He hopes other countries will follow his example.
The agreement was reached late on Monday between the coalition government and farmers’ representativesindustry and unions.
Danish livestock farmers will have to pay a tax of 300 Danish crowns (equivalent to 40 euros) per ton of carbon dioxide in 2030and the levy will increase to 750 crowns (100 euros) in 2035.
However, due to a 60% income tax deductionthe actual cost per ton will start at 120 crowns (16 euros) and increase to 300 crowns (40 euros) in 2035.
The tax must be approved in the 179-seat parliament, the Folketinget, but is expected to pass after the broad consensus reached.
The measure comes after months of farmers protests across Europe against climate change mitigation measures and regulations that, according to them, They are bankrupting them.
The Danish Society for Nature Conservation, Denmark’s largest environmental and nature conservation organization, described the tax deal as “a historic commitment”.
“We have managed to reach a compromise on the CO2 tax, which lays the foundations for a restructured food industry, also from 2030,” declared its director, Maria Reumert Gjerding.
Livestock farming is responsible for 32% of methane emissions
According to the most up-to-date data from Statistic Denmark, in June 2022 there were 1.4 million cows in the Scandinavian country. A typical Danish cow produces about six metric tons of CO2 per year.
Denmark, which is a large exporter of dairy products and porkwill also tax pigs, but cows produce much higher emissions.
Although carbon dioxide often receives more attention for its role in climate change, methane traps about 87 times more heat on a 20-year time scale, according to the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, Livestock farming is responsible for 32% of methane emissions of human origin.
New Zealand passed a law similar to Denmark in 2022, but the legislation was recently scrapped after the reaction of the agricultural sectorand after the change of Government in 2023.
New Zealand said would exclude agriculture from its emissions trading scheme in favor of exploring other ways to reduce methane.
