Why Is Denmark Introducing A Tax On Red Meat?

Video: Why Is Denmark Introducing A Tax On Red Meat?

Video: Why Is Denmark Introducing A Tax On Red Meat?
Video: Denmark Wants Meat Tax To Fight Climate Change 2024, December
Why Is Denmark Introducing A Tax On Red Meat?
Why Is Denmark Introducing A Tax On Red Meat?
Anonim

Denmark is considering a proposal to introduce a tax on red meat after government experts concluded that climate change was an ethical issue, the Independent said.

The Danish Ethics Council recommends initially introducing a levy on beef and extending the regulation to all red meat in the future. According to

The Council tax should be applied to all foods, depending on the impact that their production has on climate change.

The Council voted in favor of these measures by an overwhelming majority, and the proposal will now be submitted to the government for consideration. In a press release, the Ethics Council said Denmark was directly threatened by climate change. It turned out that it was not enough to rely on so-called "ethical consumption" alone to ensure that the country's commitments to the UN were met.

"The Danish way of life is far from climate-sustainable. "If we want to achieve the goal of the Paris Agreement to keep global warming below 2 degrees, we need to act quickly and include food," the Council said. He added that it was estimated that cattle alone produced 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, with food production generally accounting for between 19 per cent and 29 per cent.

Why is Denmark introducing a tax on red meat?
Why is Denmark introducing a tax on red meat?

According to the Council, Danes have a moral obligation to change their eating habits. It is not a problem to exclude beef from their menu and still enjoy a healthy and nutritious diet.

"In order to be effective, the responsibility for climate-damaging food, while contributing to raising awareness of the challenges posed by climate change, must be shared," said Council spokesman Mickey Gierris. He added that this requires society to send a clear signal through regulation.

In conclusion, the last few months have been difficult for red meat lovers, after the World Health Organization warned that its consumption is associated with a risk of cancer.

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