Taxing farming key for Denmark's climate target

Denmark should aim to reduce beef and dairy production by levying an emissions tax on farming of 750 Danish crowns ($108) per tonne in order to reach its ambitious climate targets, the government's independent adviser said on Monday, according to Reuters. Such a tax on farming will increase the incentive for farmers to switch to crops and pork production which emit less greenhouse gas than cattle, according to a report by the Danish Climate Council, which provides recommendations to the government. The new government said in December it sees an emissions tax on farming as crucial to achieving a binding target of reducing CO2 emissions by 70% of 1990 levels. Emissions from belching cows are a major component of agricultural methane. If no new policies are introduced, farming in Denmark is expected to account for around 40% of emissions in 2030, the council says. The sector currently accounts for 28% of emissions, according to Statistics Denmark. A carbon tax of 750 crowns per tonne ...