Every person gets taxed, whether on someone's income, property, or even gifts. Now New Zealand has proposed introducing a new tax type – a fart and burp tax for cows. The proposed tax is part of the country's efforts to combat climate change. Here's how...
The plan would be to tax methane emitted by livestock and nitrous oxide that comes from urine. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a press conference, "This is an important step forward in New Zealand's transition to a low emissions future and delivers on our promise to price agriculture emissions from 2025." Currently, the agriculture industry in New Zealand accounts for around half of the country's total greenhouse emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions are one of the main contributors to climate change and are produced by human activities. This step towards taxing the burping and farting may be strange, but it could make an impact, especially in a country where the number of cows is double the human population.
This proposal is the first of its kind. However, New Zealand is not the only one trying to make big changes for a big impact on climate change. The European Union began an initiative called the Food to Fork Strategy. The intention is to reduce carbon emissions and create healthier soil. The owner of Patagonia decided to give the company to a nonprofit organization fighting climate change. New Zealand's greenhouse gas tax would also have consequences for the farmers and people who make their living off the agriculture industry. The state predicts there could be a potential 5% loss of profit for farmers. If passed, farmers would have until 2025 before they had to start paying the tax.
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The proposal is currently undergoing review. If passed, New Zealand could be a leading influence in the fight against climate change. It may just cost Bessy the cow a pretty penny…
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