VOA科学技术2024--Cows, Pigs Face Carbon Tax in Denmark

Denmark will tax farm animals such as cattle and pigs for releasing methane¹, a kind of greenhouse gas, starting in 2030.

Some scientists think that greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere causing rising temperatures.

The European country is the first in the world to agree to such measures targeting greenhouse gas emissions².

Taxation³ Minister Jeppe Bruus said the aim is to reduce Danish greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent from 1990 levels by 2030.

Danish farmers will be taxed about $43 per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2030. However, because of an income tax deduction⁴ of 60 percent, the actual cost per ton will start at $17.30 and increase to $43 by 2035.

Carbon dioxide usually gets more attention for its part in climate change. But the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric⁵ Administration says methane traps about 87 times more heat over on a 20-year timescale under some conditions.

Methane is emitted from landfills, oil and natural gas systems and farm animals. Scientists say it has increased quickly since 2020. The United Nations Environment Program says 32 percent of human-caused methane comes from farm animals.

Bruus said, "We will take a big step closer in becoming climate neutral in 2045." He added that Denmark "will be the first country in the world to introduce a real CO2 tax on agriculture" and hoped other countries would follow.

New Zealand passed a similar law that was to take effect in 2025. However, the legislation was recently removed after farmers criticized the measure. There was also a change of government following the 2023 election. New Zealand said it would not include agriculture in its emissions trading policy and would look for other ways to reduce methane.

In Denmark, the center-right government reached the tax agreement after meeting with farmers, business representatives, labor⁶ organizations, and others.

Denmark's move comes after months of protests by farmers across Europe against climate change measures. The rules, they say, could drive them out of business.

The Danish Society for Nature Conservation, an environmental group, took part in the talks. It described the tax agreement as "a historic compromise."

Maria Reumert Gjerding, head of the organization said, "We have succeeded in landing a compromise on a CO2 tax, which lays the groundwork for a restructured food industry -- also on the other side of 2030."

An average cow in Denmark is believed to produce the equivalent of about six metric tons of CO2 yearly. The government of Denmark said that there were nearly 1.5 million cattle in the country in 2022. The Scandinavian country is a large dairy and pork exporter. Denmark also will tax pigs although they produce far less emissions than cows.

The tax is to be approved in the 179-seat parliament. The bill is expected to pass.

Words in This Story

emissions -n. (pl.) substances, such as gases, that are release into the air by some process

equivalent -adj. having the same effect, amount or result to something else that is more or less similar

deduction -n. a value that depends on other values and which, after calculation, results in the reduction of a sum

landfill -n. a place where waste and garbage are buried in the ground

groundwork -n. the first steps in producing a larger and more substantial result

dairy -n. related to the industry of producing milk and milk products

1 methane   

n.甲烷，沼气

参考例句：

• The blast was caused by pockets of methane gas that ignited.爆炸是由数袋甲烷气体着火引起的。
• Methane may have extraterrestrial significance.甲烷具有星际意义。

2 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

3 taxation   

n.征税，税收，税金

参考例句：

• He made a number of simplifications in the taxation system.他在税制上作了一些简化。
• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。

4 deduction   

n.减除，扣除，减除额；推论，推理，演绎

参考例句：

• No deduction in pay is made for absence due to illness.因病请假不扣工资。
• His deduction led him to the correct conclusion.他的推断使他得出正确的结论。

5 atmospheric   

adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的

参考例句：

• Sea surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation are strongly coupled.海洋表面温度与大气环流是密切相关的。
• Clouds return radiant energy to the surface primarily via the atmospheric window.云主要通过大气窗区向地表辐射能量。

6 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。