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Denmark is making headlines with a groundbreaking new tax: a belch and manure tax. With farming accounting for a huge chunk of the country’s climate pollution, lawmakers have created a first-of-its-kind tax aimed at curbing methane emissions from livestock, namely pigs and cows.
The problem? There are far more pigs and cows in Denmark than people—five times as many, to be exact. And with agriculture consuming nearly two-thirds of the land and contributing significantly to climate pollution, the government had to act. The new tax will charge farmers based on the carbon emissions from their animals’ waste, burps, and farts, starting in 2030. The goal is to nudge farmers to adopt more sustainable practices and help the country clean up its agricultural sector.
The tax isn’t exactly a straightforward levy, though. It includes rebates for farmers to soften the blow, especially for those who take steps to reduce methane emissions, like using special feed additives or capturing methane from manure for use in energy. However, the tax has sparked controversy, with some environmentalists saying it’s too lenient, while farmers argue they don’t have the technology to eliminate emissions entirely.
The tax will start at 300 Danish kroner ($43) per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030, and increase to 750 kroner by 2035. Despite the pushback, many farmers seem to be taking the changes in stride. For example, dairy farmer Jens Christian Sørensen is already using technology to monitor his cows’ health and is planning to use feed additives to cut down on methane. He acknowledges the need for change and sees the tax as part of the solution, especially as global demand for dairy continues to grow.
On the other hand, some farmers, like Svend Brodersen, are trying to find a balance between reducing pollution and maintaining a viable business. Brodersen, who runs an organic farm, can’t use feed additives, so he’s planting trees on his land to help absorb carbon. He supports the tax, seeing it as an important step in showing that farming can be done sustainably.
Overall, Denmark’s tax is a major leap toward reducing agriculture’s climate impact, and it’s putting pressure on other agricultural nations to follow suit. It’s a tough balancing act—one that asks farmers to rethink long-established practices and find ways to minimize pollution while meeting the world’s growing food demands.
[Source: New York Times]
