Proposals for the introduction of a tax on methane emissions of cows is seriously ruffling the feathers of the agricultural sector. Discussions about cow taxes have been going on for a few years now, particularly in New Zealand, but new proposals in Ireland and Denmark have reignited the debate.
Under European legislation, Ireland and Denmark have to reduce their agricultural sector emissions by 20% by 2020 or face steep penalties. Although scientists are researching ways to reduce methane emissions from cows, through changes in diet for example, these will not result in a significant reductions. So that leaves two possible solutions; reducing the number of cows reared for meat, or just finding a way to pay those penalties. The tax on emissions would provide an income to pay the penalites. However, proposals for a €13 tax per cow in Ireland and €80 in Denmark have infuriated farmers.
The European Commission has made clear that they will not be imposing these taxes. The European Commission’s Dublin Director Martin Territt, has said that “The European Commission has no powers to propose taxes of this nature to member states.” Of course, whilst the EC cannot impose the taxes, the individual member countries of the EU can develop their own strategies to combat climate change and a tax on methane is an option. The discussions in Denmark and Ireland about the tax continue but with such strong opposition, it seems unlikely it will happen.
So that just leaves one option; reducing the number of animals raised for meat and dairy. It seems that Irish livestock farmers are not willing to accept this and are now threatening to move their herd to Latin America to avoid the EU’s penalties. But sooner or later they will have to face up to their responsibilities, they cannot just move their destruction elsewhere. The livestock industry has made the most of the opportunities presented by industrialisation and our consumer society over the past decades, but it’s time for it to stop. We all need to change, and they are not excluded.
