Burps, farts, and taxes: Denmark becomes the first country to tax farm animals’ methane emissions

Meat

Denmark

Other Policies

Dairy

Climate/Environment

Published Nov 29, 2024

Tridge summary

Denmark has become the first country to pass a tax on animal flatulence and belches, known as 'methane emissions', in an effort to protect the environment. The tax, which will be implemented in 2030, will initially cost farmers 300 Danish kroner (around $43) per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent, rising to 750 kroner (around $106) by 2035. However, farmers will receive a 60% rebate due to the lack of technology to reduce flatulence. The rebate will increase for farmers who reduce methane production through measures such as sending pig manure to the gas grid. The tax is aimed at addressing environmental concerns from agriculture, which is a significant contributor to pollution in Denmark, particularly due to its large cow and pig populations. The government also plans to convert 15% of farmland into forests and natural habitats, and plant a billion trees on farmland, at a cost of $6.1 billion.

Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Denmark has just passed the first tax in the world on animal belches and flatulence in a bid to protect the environment. The tax has been under negotiation for several years and was just passed by the Danish parliament. The measure, which will go into effect in 2030, will see farmers assessed a charge of 300 Danish kroner (roughly $43) for each ton of carbon dioxide equivalent produced by their operations. This tax will more than double within five years, hitting 750 kroner (or around $106 right now) by 2035. However, farmers will receive a 60% rebate because the technology does not yet exist to get rid of flatulence completely. The rebates will go up for farmers who take steps like sending their pig’s manure to machines that can pipe the methane to the gas grid or use additives in cows that will reduce the methane in their burps. Of course, one has to wonder what chemicals that can change an animal’s body chemistry enough to reduce the methane in their burps could do to the ...

Source: Organicfarming