The measure must be approved by the Copenhagen Parliament but has broad support among the centre-right majority. The tax aims to reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions produced by manure from cattle, sheep and pig farms.
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Denmark will tax farmers for greenhouse gases emitted by cows, sheep and pigs starting in 2030, the first country in the world to do so.
The measure targets livestock emissions of carbon dioxide and methane, one of the gases that contribute most to global warmingand comes at a time when the European Union is increasingly lukewarm towards the climate commitments made with the Green Deal.
Denmark, a tax will be paid on the CO2 produced on farms
The agreement was reached on Monday between center-right government and representatives of farmers, industry and trade unions. The goal is to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent compared to 1990 levels by 2030, the Danish Finance Minister said, Jeppe Bruus.
It will be a “big step towards becoming climate neutral,” Bruus said, adding that Denmark “will be the first country to introduce a real tax on CO2 in agriculture”in the hope that others will follow the example.
A similar law was supposed to come into force in 2025 New Zelandbut it was blocked on Wednesday after heavy criticism from farmers and ranchers.
Environment, Denmark still ahead of the EU
Copenhagen’s move comes after months of protests by farmers across Europe against measures to reduce emissions pollutants and regulations that, they say, are driving them into bankruptcy.
The Danish Society for Nature Conservation, the country’s largest environmental organisation, described the tax deal as “a historic compromise”.
The tax is 300 Danish kroner (40 euros) per ton of carbon dioxide and will double in 2035. However, a 60 percent tax deduction will be applied.
While carbon dioxide is a major culprit in global warming, methane traps about 87 times more heat over a 20-year period, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Greenhouse gas, livestock produces a third of the methane emitted on Earth
This gas is emitted by landfills, oil facilities and livestockwhich due to the manure fermentation it is responsible for about 32 percent of human-caused methane emissions, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.
A typical Danish cow produces 6 metric tons (6.6 tons) of CO2 per year. According to official data, Denmark, which is a large exporter of dairy products, hosted in 2022 almost a million and a half cows.
The tax, which also concerns sheep and pig farms, must be approved by Parliament but the bill is expected to pass with broad support.
