New Zealand To Begin Taxing On Cow & Sheep Burps To Cut Greenhouse Gases

New Zealand may be the only place where it is outnumbered by sheep and cows. With only five million people, 10 million cows, and 26 million sheep, its worries do not lie with pollutants from cars but from livestock.

In a bid to reduce greenhouse gases, the government is now taxing farmers for gas released by cows and sheep. 

New Zealand is a large exporter of livestock agriculture and nearly half of its greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock. Other agricultural practices also contribute to a large portion of the emissions however the government has previously exempted agriculture from being taxed for such. This brought the government under scrutiny for its goals of a more sustainable future.  

The law is being passed from 2025 onwards. While there is no current accurate price, the initial plan is to charge NZ$0.11 for every kilogram (two pounds) of methane and NZ$0.40 for every two pounds of carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide. Farmers who provide feed additives to their livestock are given incentives.

The scheme’s revenue will be used to fund agricultural research, development, and advisory services. 

[via Reuters and The Guardian, Photo 46549217© Pisotckii | Dreamstime.com]