Farmers in New Zealand may be charged a tax on their cows' burps and farts?!
Who knew those gases were that toxic?
This is by far one of the craziest headlines you will read, but the reality behind it is quite real and scary.
As much as we may joke about the natural bodily emissions - aka burping and farting - very rarely would anyone associate these with something that causes harm to the climate.
We had an idea that this very well may be the case when we heard that New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden was moving forward with her team's proposal to tax livestock farmers.
"Prime Minister Jacinda Arden confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday that her government will push ahead with a proposal to make farmers pay for their livestock’s emissions in a bid to combat climate change." (CNN)
This has been decided as part of New Zealand's mission in transitioning into their low emission future.
Since New Zealand is a major livestock and meat exporter, we understand that agriculture equates to half of the country's total emissions. Not to mention its "biogenic emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas with more than 80 times the global warming power of carbon dioxide in the short term." (CNN)
Since New Zealand is the first country to have introduced the tax deductions on agricultural emissions, Arden says that farmers stand to "benefit from being first movers".
But many beg to differ in opinion. Many farmers are concerned about the high cost that this will impose on their sector.
As much as there is some disdain from farmers, government has communicated that the revenue from the 'burp and fart' tax will be repurposed back into the agricultural sector.
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This proposal has also served to encourage farmers to reduce emissions. Perhaps they could learn a thing or two from a farm in Italy that is using their cow excrement to produce energy.
"Already some of this technology is being used. Researchers at dairy company Fonterra are trialing the effects of “Kowbucha,” a probiotic thought to reduce methane-emitting burps." (CNN)
Overall, the New Zealand government believes that by rewarding farmers who reduce their emissions, they are able to "support more farmers, improve their productivity and profitability" by achieving climate goals.
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