New Zealand’s largest environmental problem is the natural release of greenhouse gases by its 6.2million cows.
New Zealand’s government is considering taxing its farmers for the cows’ farts and burps. It could be the first such initiative in the world. The government has proposed a new climate change plan to address rising greenhouse gas emissions from the country’s agricultural sector.
According to CNN, Prime Minister Jacinda Arden confirmed Tuesday at a press conference that her government would push forward with a proposal for farmers to pay for the carbon emissions from their livestock. This is in response to climate change.
Ardern stated, “This is an important step in New Zealand’s shift to a low-emission future. It also delivers on our promise of pricing agriculture emissions beginning 2025.”
New Zealand’s greenhouse gases are one of the biggest environmental issues. The plan would require farmers to pay for the gas emissions from animals, which includes methane in cow farts and burps and nitrous dioxide in cow urine.
Ardern advised farmers to charge more for climate-friendly products in order to recover the cost.
She claimed that the “pragmatic suggestion” would reduce agricultural emission while making products more durable and enhancing New Zealand’s “export branding”.
The proposed plan will require that farmers who meet the thresholds for fertiliser and herd size will pay a levy by 2025. The government will do this based on recommendations from the Climate Change Commission and farmers.
The report stated that the entire earnings of the levy would go towards research and new technologies. It also provides subsidies to farmers who adopt climate-friendly practices.
