In the fight against climate change: New Zealand wants to tax cow burps
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In the fight against climate change: New Zealand wants to tax cow burps
Wellington – The New Zealand government on Tuesday published its latest plan to combat climate change: Among other things, cow burps should be taxed.
The New Zealand government wants to reduce methane emissions by 47 percent by 2050. (Code image) © 123rf / brians101
This isn’t the first time a New Zealand government has come up with such an idea New York Post mentioned.
As early as 2003, the government, also led by the Labor Party, developed a plan to tax methane emissions from cows. However, the proposal was heavily criticized by the farmers and after a while a decision was made against it.
The renewed attempt by Labor to tax the climate-damaging consequences of livestock farming has received little understanding from farmers.
If the tax is applied, farmers will pay taxes on their emissions from 2025. However, the exact amount has not yet been determined.
In any case, this means less profit for the farmers. Therefore, the government recommends farmers to raise their prices due to the additional costs.
In a country where agriculture is still an important part of GDP, additional taxes in this area are upset.
In particular, the head of the country’s largest farm lobby, Andrew Hoggard, is not sympathetic to the new tax.
Even the conservative opposition doesn’t think much of the idea
There are only five million New Zealanders, but there are 10 million head of cattle and 26 million head of sheep on the islands. (icon image) © 123RF / Markosjan
Hoggard said farmers have been working with the government for more than two years to develop a greener agricultural plan.
Many farmers see their very existence threatened by the new taxes.
The New York Post quoted Andrew Hoggard as saying, “Our plan was for the farmers to continue farming. Instead, they are now selling their fields so fast that you can’t even hear dogs barking in cars because they’re driving so fast.” According to him.
The new tax is primarily intended as a tool to reduce emissions Be in New Zealand.
But the opposition believes that this goal cannot be achieved in this way. They fear that companies will move their production to countries with worse environmental standards as a result of the new taxes.
For Prime Minister Jacinda Arden (42), the new tax is a tight law. Because she announced it on the one hand New Zealand To be climate neutral by 2050 and reduce methane emissions by 10 percent by 2030. On the other hand, farmers and their lobby groups are an important political force that could cost Jordan re-election if no deal is reached.
Because next year there will be another election in New Zealand.
Cover Photo: 123rf / brians101