World’s first ag emissions tax, includes livestock flatulence

Nov 19

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Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

By Jack Aylmer (Energy Correspondent), Michael Edwards (Video Editor), Mohammed Ali (Graphics)

Denmark is introducing the world’s first tax aimed at agricultural emissions, such as cow flatulence. This comes as part of an agreement finalized Monday, Nov. 18 between the Danish government and farmers, industry groups and environmentalists.

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The new tax looks to address the farming sector, which is the country’s largest source of carbon pollution.

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Starting in 2030, Danish farmers will be required to pay approximately $43 for every ton of carbon dioxide equivalent their operations emit. This fee is set to increase to around $106 per ton by 2035.

The average farm in Denmark emits about 5.6 tons of carbon dioxide annually. About half of those emissions stem from methane released by livestock through burps and manure.

Officials estimate that in the first year, the new tax could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.8 million tons. That’s a reduction comparable to the annual emissions of a small city.

In addition to the emissions tax, Danish officials are also targeting the agricultural sector’s reliance on chemical fertilizers.

Denmark shares the lead for the highest proportion of cultivated land, at 60%. That means fertilizer usage throughout the country is high. Experts say the high use leads to to harmful nitrogen runoff.

This pollution has reportedly depleted oxygen levels in the nation’s waters to alarming levels, leading to notable marine life loss.

To combat this, the government plans to allocate $6.1 billion over the next two decades to purchase approximately 15% of Denmark’s farmland.

Officials plan to repurpose the land and plant one billion trees. Researchers estimate a reforestation project like this could absorb up to a decade’s worth of carbon emissions.

Tags: carbon emissions, Denmark, farm, Farming, greenhouse gas emissions, Methane emissions, Taxes, zero-emissions

ITS THE WORLD’S FIRST TAX ON AGRICULTURAL EMISSIONS-

AND IT INCLUDES MAKING FARMERS PAY FOR COW FARTS.

DENMARK REACHED A DEAL THIS WEEK TO IMPLEMENT THESE NEW EMISSIONS STANDARDS FOR ITS AGRICULTURAL SECTOR-

WHICH IS THE COUNTRY’S LARGEST SOURCE OF CARBON POLLUTION.

STARTING IN 20-30, DANISH FARMERS WILL HAVE TO PAY ABOUT 43 DOLLARS FOR EVERY TON OF CARBON DIOXIDE EQUIVALENT THEY EMIT.

IN 20-35, THAT FEE WILL RISE TO AROUND 106 DOLLARS PER TON.

ON AVERAGE, A FARM IN DENMARK WILL PUT OUT ABOUT 5.6 TONS OF CO2 EVERY YEAR-

LIVESTOCK IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOUT HALF OF THAT, COMING IN THE FORM OF METHANE EXPELLED IN ANIMAL BURPS AND MANURE.

OFFICIALS ESTIMATE DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THESE NEW REGULATIONS, THE COUNTRY WILL CUT DOWN ON ABOUT 1.8 MILLIONS TONS OF GREENHOUSE GASSES-

A TOTAL COMPARABLE TO THE ANNUAL AIR POLLUTION CAUSED BY A SMALL CITY.

IN ADDITION TO THE NEW AGRICULTURAL EMISSIONS TAX, DENMARK IS ALSO LOOKING TO REDUCE THE USE OF FERTILIZER, AND THE HARMFUL NITROGEN IT CONTAINS, THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY.

THE DANISH GOVERNMENT SAYS FERTILIZER RUNOFF HAS LED TO SEVERE OXYGEN DEPLETION IN THE NATION’S WATERS-

A TREND THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOSS OF MARINE LIFE.

WITH 60 PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY CURRENTLY DEVOTED TO FARMLAND-

DENMARK IS TIED AS THE WORLD LEADER FOR COUNTRIES WITH THE HIGHEST SHARE OF CULTIVATED LAND.

THAT MEANS A LOT OF FERTILIZER USE IS HAPPENING IN THE NATION-

SO TO STOP THIS, DENMARK WANTS TO BUY ABOUT 15 PERCENT OF ITS AGRICULTURAL LANDS BACK FROM FARMERS.

SETTING ASIDE A LITTLE MORE THAN SIX BILLION DOLLARS TO DO SO OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS-

WITH PLANS TO RE-USE THE ACQUIRED LAND TO PLANT ONE BILLION TREES.

SOME RESEARCHERS BELIEVE THIS INITIATIVE COULD HELP ABSORB ABOUT A DECADE’S WORTH OF CARBON EMISSIONS.

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