Can Denmark sell green agriculture to a skeptical EU?

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🗞️ Driving the news: As Denmark prepares to assume the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in July, it is positioning its green agriculture model as a template for broader European reform
• Fresh from legislating the world’s first agricultural emissions tax, Copenhagen aims to spotlight climate priorities in a bloc increasingly focused on competitiveness over carbon reduction  

🔭 The context: Denmark’s domestic Green Tripartite Agreement, forged through cross-sector collaboration, introduces a phased-in livestock emissions tax and support for biodiversity and farmer adaptation
• However, the EU political climate has cooled on green policy amid farmer unrest, deregulation pressures, and a rightward shift in Parliament
• Denmark's consensus-based model contrasts sharply with Brussels’ opaque trilogue system

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Agriculture is a major emitter, and Denmark’s model represents one of the few serious attempts to align food production with climate goals
• If scalable, it could help the EU meet its 2040 emissions target
• But the approach's reliance on modest taxes and voluntary measures raises concerns about efficacy and its success — or failure — could set a precedent for climate-aligned farming across industrialized nations

⏭️ What's next: During its presidency, Denmark will influence early talks on the 2028–2034 EU budget and the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
• While sweeping policy shifts are unlikely, Denmark could help elevate long-term sustainability narratives amid short-term political headwinds
• The upcoming EU Bioeconomy Strategy (late 2025) may offer a less contentious entry point for green industrial policy. However, aligning CAP finance with climate goals will be a major hurdle

💬 One quote: “Denmark has credibility on green agriculture, but selling that model to 26 other countries will be a much harder job.” — Senior EU diplomat

📈 One stat: Agriculture accounts for nearly 29% of Denmark’s total greenhouse gas emissions, including about 80% of its methane and nitrous oxide emissions

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