Flatulence tax: Denmark agrees deal for livestock emissions levy

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🗞️ Driving the news: Denmark has finalized an agreement to implement the world’s first tax on agricultural emissions, targeting methane from livestock
• Starting in 2030, farmers will pay 300 kroner ($43) per tonne of methane, increasing to 750 kroner by 2035
• The deal, part of the Green Tripartite agreement, involves major parties, farmers, unions, and environmental groups

🔭 The context: Agriculture is Denmark's largest source of emissions, with 60% of the nation’s land under cultivation
• Alongside the levy, the agreement includes restoring 140,000 hectares of peatlands, planting 250,000 hectares of forest, and reducing nitrogen pollution to rejuvenate coasts and fjords
• Denmark aims to lead in biodiversity and climate action with broad political and societal support

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is a major contributor to global warming
• Denmark's tax sets a precedent for addressing emissions from agriculture, a sector often overlooked in climate policies
• Restoring natural habitats like peatlands also helps sequester carbon and boost biodiversity

⏭️ What's next: Farmers will adapt to the levy and new land-use practices, with government support expected for transitions
• The world will watch as Denmark's bold strategy could inspire similar policies globally

💬 One quote: “[This is a] huge, huge task that is now underway: to transform large parts of our land from agricultural production to forestry, to natural spaces” – Jeppe Bruus, Danish Green Tripartite Minister

📈 One stat: Denmark plans to restore 140,000 hectares of peatlands and plant 250,000 hectares of new forest under the agreement

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