Denmark, a major pork and dairy exporter, is to introduce a tax on livestock carbon dioxide emissions from 2030.
It will be the first country to impose such a tax.
“We will be the first country in the world to introduce a real CO2 tax on agriculture. Other countries will be inspired by this,” taxation minister Jeppe Bruus of the Social Democrats party said in a statement.
The tax was first proposed in February this year by government-commissioned experts to help Denmark reach a legally binding 2030 target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 70% compared to 1990 levels.
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Denmark’s ruling coalition has agreed an effective tax rate of DKr120 (€16) per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from livestock, including cows and pigs.
The introduction of the new tax comes as countries around the world struggle to reduce emissions from food production while maintaining food security.
Last year, research showed that feeding daffodil extract to cows could be the key in reducing methane production in the ongoing hunt for more sustainable livestock farming.
