New Zealand plans to tax farts and burps

“Emission determination”, The full width of one title New Zealand Herald This Wednesday, October 12th. The day before, the government Jacinda Ardern He unveiled a plan to tax greenhouse gas emissions from farm animals. Consultations will take place now.

“Within three years, ” Above the silhouette of a grazing cow, the Oakland newspaper still states that farmers must pay for their animal’s gas emissions, such as methane found in gassing and cows burping, and nitrous oxide found in cattle urine. will be then “world first”.

Farms turned into forests

The agriculture sector is responsible for half of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions. “The government has pledged to reduce methane emissions from agriculture and landfills by 10% by 2030,” explain it New Zealand Herald. More ambitious cuts were announced for the following years, “In addition to the 2050 carbon neutrality target”.

With some farmers, the project does not pass. As Andrew Hoggard, president of the Farmers Union, quoted by the newspaper, said, this plan “It would take courage from a small town in New Zealand.”. For him, the project will encourage cattle and sheep farmers to convert their farms into forests. Government, replete New Zealand HeraldIt plans to reduce the area devoted to raising beef and sheep by about 20% by 2030.

Breeders have criticized the project, as have some environmentalists. The New Zealand branch of Greenpeace considers this to be the case “Green Laundry”. However, the government hopes that the negotiations now open will lead to a signature next year, thus bringing the project into effect in 2025.