Denmark could introduce a tax on red meet after a government think tank concluded that it is “necessary to include food” if the country is to live up to the Paris Agreement.
Cattle contributes to a tenth of global emissions but is widely ignored in climate talks. A cow releases between 70 and 120 kg of Methane per year on average, which contributes significantly to climate change. The negative effect on the climate of Methane is 23 times higher than the effect of CO2.
The Danish Council of Ethics has recommended an initial tax on beef, with a view to extending the regulation to all red meats in future. It says Danes are “ethically obliged” to change their eating habits, adding that cutting out beef and still enjoying a healthy and nutritious diet shouldn’t be problematic.
In a press release, the council said: “The Danish way of life is far from climate-sustainable, and if we are to live up to the Paris Agreement target of keeping the global temperature rise ‘well’ below 2°C, it is necessary both to act quickly and involve food.”
