Major parties agree to tax CO₂ emissions from farms, a world first.

This will be a world first. The Danish coalition government, led by social democrat Mette Frederiksen, announced, on Monday, November 18, an agreement between the majority parties on the introduction of a carbon tax on livestock farming in 2030, within the framework of a plan aimed at making a more ecological agriculture.

The majority parties in Parliament agreed on the terms of the agreement aimed at taxing, starting in 2030, methane emissions – the second most present greenhouse gas in the atmosphere – caused by the flatulence of cattle and pigs, reported in a news conference.

“We will be the first country in the world to introduce a carbon tax on agriculture”declared the Minister of Climate, Lars Aagaard, on the occasion of the presentation of this agreement called “green tripartite”.

Starting in 2030, methane emissions from livestock farming will be taxed at 300 crowns (40.20 euros) per ton of CO₂ equivalent, reaching 750 crowns per ton in 2035. Thanks to a 60% tax deduction, the cost for the farmer will go from 120 crowns per ton in 2030 to 300 crowns in 2035. Various associations Environmentalists consider that this is too low a tax to really limit breeders.

Farmers who invest in technologies to reduce emissions will escape this. Others will be able to benefit from transition assistance, coming from a fund financed with tax revenues.

One of the main exporters of pork.

This decision is part of a broader text on the greening of agriculture that should make it possible to reduce nitrogen emissions by 13,780 tons per year between now and 2027 in this Scandinavian country, a major exporter of meat and dairy products. At the end of June, a first agreement in principle was concluded between the government and representatives of breeders, industry and unions.

The text, unveiled today and which has the support of the Government and four major parties, must still be voted on in Parliament. In a statement, the signatories described the agreement as “The biggest change in the Danish landscape in more than a hundred years”.

“Danish nature will change like we have not seen since the wetlands were drained in 1864”declared the minister responsible for this agreement, Jeppe Bruus. Around 10% of cultivated land will be returned to nature, in particular with the planting of 250,000 hectares of forest, or one billion trees, the equivalent of “38 times around the planet”said Mr. Bruus.

According to a parliamentary report, around 60% of Denmark’s land area is currently under cultivation, making it, along with Bangladesh, the country with the highest proportion of land under cultivation. Globally, Denmark is a leading exporter of pork, accounting for almost half of the country’s agricultural exports, according to the Danish Agriculture and Food Council.