Denmark is on track to become one of the countries with the most policies for planet care. For this reason, it decided to impose a tax on the agricultural sector for the greenhouse gases produced by pigs, sheep, and cows.
Parliamentarians will discuss this agreement in order to “take a step towards neutrality” by 2045, so it would be implemented starting in 2030, as indicated in the proposal led by the Social Democrat Mette Frederiksen. In turn, the Danish Tax Minister, Jeppe Brus, pointed out that this plan was designed to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030.
The agreement came this week after the coalition government met with representatives from farmers, unions, and industry. “We will take a big step towards climate neutrality in 2045; we will be the first country in the world to introduce a real tax on CO2 emissions in agriculture,” stated the minister, who added that he hopes other countries will join this initiative.
With this agreement among the involved parties, Danish livestock producers will have to pay a tax of 300 Danish crowns, equivalent to 40 euros, for each ton of carbon dioxide in 2030, a rate that will rise to 750 crowns (100 euros) in 2035.
Denmark will apply a new tax to the agricultural sector.
A country committed to caring for the planet
For this initiative to be put into motion, it must first be approved by the 179-seat Parliament, although it is expected to be approved after consensus from all involved parties.
The measure was reached after months of protests by farmers throughout Europe, who were against climate change mitigation regulations, as they claim they are being driven to bankruptcy.
In this regard, the Danish environmental and nature conservation organization, the Danish Society for Nature Conservation, stated that this tax agreement is “a historic commitment.”
Livestock farming is one of the activities that produce the most greenhouse gas emissions.
32% of methane emissions are from livestock
According to data from Statistics Denmark, in June 2022, Denmark had 1.4 million cows, each of which produces about six metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.
It is worth noting that Denmark is one of the largest exporters of dairy products and pork, which is why the tax will also apply to them, despite producing much lower emissions than those produced by cows.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States, methane traps about 87 times more heat on a 20-year time scale. However, carbon dioxide usually receives more attention for its role in climate change and planet care.
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