New Zealand Plans: A tax on burps of sheep and cows

New Zealand has unveiled a plan to impose a tax on burps of sheep and cows, as part of efforts to address one of the country’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

The BBC website reported that New Zealand is expected to become the first country in the world to levy tax on farmers Methane gas emissions Of the animals they raise. The country has a population of about 5 million, as well as about 10 million cows and 26 million sheep. About half of all greenhouse gas emissions, and especially methane gas, in a country are covered by agriculture.

“There is no doubt that we need to cut the amount of methane we release into the atmosphere, and an efficient pricing system for emissions in agriculture will play a key role in achieving this goal,” said State Environment Minister James Shaw.

According to the plan, farmers will pay from 2025 on gas emissions. The program also includes incentives for farmers that will reduce the amount of emissions through initiatives such as planting trees on farms.

Andrew Hogard, a dairy owner and president of the National Federation of Farmers in New Zealand, said in response that he supports the plan. “We have been working on this for years with the government and other organizations to agree on an approach that will not lead to the closure of agriculture in New Zealand, so we have agreed on many things we are happy with. But as with all such agreements signed by many parties, there are always some rats needed To swallow”. He added that no agreement had yet been reached on all the small details of the agreement.

The money raised by the state from the program will be reinvested in research, development and consulting services for farmers.

Last month, the finance minister announced the allocation of $ 2.9 billion ($ 1.9 billion) to climate change initiatives. The money will be raised from taxing pollutants.