Denmark to charge farmers £80 per cow in world-first meat tax
Denmark will charge farmers up to £80 for every cow in a world-first carbon tax on agriculture as the country tries to encourage people to eat less meat to tackle climate change.
Agriculture is the largest emitting sector in Denmark, a major pork and dairy exporter and the government hopes the tax will help it reach its goals of cutting emissions by 70 per cent this decade.
It will establish a fund with proceeds from the tax to help farmers go green and has put £58 million into feed additives to cut methane emissions from cows.
The new tax, which was agreed upon after negotiations with farming and green groups, will impose a levy of £13.50 per ton of CO2 in 2030, rising to £85 in 2035 although a 60 per cent rebate will be applied.
That will add an initial cost of around £80 per dairy cow, which emits an average of six tonnes of CO2 equivalent, according to Danish green think tank Concito, which cites a Danish government working group.
It could add an extra cost of 23p per kilo of minced beef, according to Denmark’s Minister for Economic Affairs Stephanie Lose.
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