Danish Parliament approves CO2 tax on livestock farming - African countries urge OECD/China to start pricing meat/dairy
This morning, the Danish Parliament approved, by a large majority, a proposal for a CO2-equivalent tax on greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming and peatland emissions. It marks a historic moment as Denmark becomes the first country in the world to introduce a tax on agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. Jeroom Remmers, director of the TAPP Coalition, stated: "We are pleased that Denmark is setting an example for the world today, during the UN Climate Conference in Baku, by becoming the first country to put a price on agricultural greenhouse gas emissions starting in 2030. This will lead to higher prices for meat and dairy, thereby reducing consumption."
The Danish Vegetarian Society reacted in a positive way too on the new proposal, just like the farmers did. The Arla Dairy CEO was positive too, but he indicated organic farmers could face some problems. Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl, Secretary-General of the Vegetarian organisation also highlights that the climate tax on livestock must be significantly higher than proposed to counterbalance the many subsidies that favor animal-based foods over plant-based production.
A growing number of African countries are signing the TAPP Coalition’s COP29 Declaration. They are calling on wealthy OECD countries and China to follow Denmark’s lead by introducing meat and dairy levies or implementing a European Agri-ETS for slaughterhouses and dairy factories, with part of the revenue allocated to the Loss & Damage Fund.
Last summer, a tripartite consultation between Danish farmers, environmental organisations, the government and other stakeholders reached an agreement on the plan.
INVITATION PRESS CONFERENCE COP29 on Danish Tripartite Plan
November 21, 6:30 AM CET / online recording available
During the TAPP Coalition COP29 press conference on Thursday, November 21, from 9:30 to 10:00 am (AZT), TAPP Coalition will present some of the details of this Danish deal relating to pricing GHG-emissions. We have invited Christian Stenberg, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Utilities, to speak (TBC). He will also deliver a speech 19 November at 1:00 PM (AZT) in the Danish Pavillion.
At the press conference, Jeroom Remmers, director of TAPP Coalition, will also present the European Commission’s plans on studies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the agriculture and food sector, potentially through an Emissions Trading System (ETS) for slaughterhouses and dairy factories. This could start in 2030. Ingeborg ter Laak, a CDA Member of the European Parliament, will present her perspective on the Commission’s plans (led by Wopke Hoekstra) and the EU Parliament’s agenda for COP29.
More information about this event and the online link.
Background information: https://tappcoalition.eu/nieuws
UPDATE ABOUT COUNTRIES URGING RICH NATIONS TO TAX AGRIFOOD GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
21 November at 11:00 AM (AZT, 8 am CET), we expect to send an update/press release regarding the number of countries urging wealthy OECD nations and China learn from Denmark and implement a tax on meat (or to tax greenhouse gas emissions from food systems). So far, the environment ministers of Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, Liberia, and Equatorial Guinea have signed on, and more countries are expected to follow this week. We anticipate that more countries will sign on Wednesday or Thursday. They demand at least 20 percent of tax revenues should be directed to the Loss and Damage Fund, to compensate low income countries for the damage caused by food related GHG-emissions at global level.
18th November, Jeroom Remmers met with Nigeria’s Minister of Environment Lawal, to encourage mutual cooperation,
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More information:
Jeroom Remmers
Director TAPP Coalition
Telephone number during COP29: +994 51 833 6241
Telephone number after COP29: +31 6 22 40 77 12
