Denmark Introduces World's First Livestock Carbon Tax

Denmark has announced a transformative environmental initiative, the Green Tripartite Plan, which aims to plant 1 billion trees and convert 10% of its farmland into natural areas over the next two decades. This ambitious plan, backed by a broad political coalition, includes a groundbreaking carbon tax on livestock emissions, set to begin in 2030, that will tax methane emissions at 300 kroner per tonne, increasing to 750 kroner by 2035. The government aims to restore biodiversity and reduce nitrogen pollution by 13,780 tonnes annually from 2027, significantly impacting the nation's cultivated land, which comprises 60% of its territory. Jeppe Bruus, the head of the Green Tripartite Ministry, highlighted that this initiative represents the most significant change to Denmark's landscape in over a century. The plan, however, faces criticism from right-wing populist parties and environmental groups for its economic implications and perceived lack of ambition. Parliament's approval for the plan is anticipated, but no voting date has been set yet.