Danes move forward with concerted attempt to tackle emissions from agriculture
The Danish Government has this week reached an agreement that confirms its plans to introduce a CO2 tax on livestock from 2030, as well as the long-term promotion of plant-based foods. ProVeg International has hailed the agreement as a necessary step forward in the battle against climate change.
In a press conference on Monday (18 November), Denmark’s Coalition Government confirmed it was pushing forward with the tax under a “Green Tripartite Initiative”.
“This is the future of agricultural policy if we seriously want to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change,” Jasmijn de Boo, Global CEO of ProVeg, said.
“Animal agriculture is responsible for up to a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions, a fact that has been ignored or sidelined for too long. Further delay in action to reduce emissions from this sector will only worsen the situation for farmers as the climate crisis intensifies.
“We urge the EU to also adopt measures to tackle emissions reduction in the agricultural sector, as there currently are none,” de Boo said.
Denmark, a major exporter of pork and dairy, first agreed on the tax earlier this year. The deal now includes greater promotion of plant-based foods, which emit half as much greenhouse gases as animal-based foods.
This aligns with Denmark’s pioneering Action Plan for Plant Based Foods, which aims to increase the production and consumption of climate-friendly food by providing support in the public sector, industry and research and development fields.
Key plant-based elements of the agreement are as follows:
- Parties agree that “a shift to more plant production is a central element in the green transition.”
- An additional €55 million (DKK 420m) will be made available for the Plant Based Food Grant between 2025–2030.
- The Plant Based Food Grant will be made permanent (previously set to end in 2030), potentially increasing the value of plant-based initiatives under the agreement to over DKK 1 billion.
- Denmark commits to advocating for a European action plan for plant-based foods.
- An additional €2 million is allocated for other plant-based initiatives, with specific details to be agreed upon by the negotiation circle.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
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For scientific data about the benefits of food production and food systems, see our Food System Data website.
About ProVeg International
Our vision is a world where everyone chooses delicious and healthy food that is good for all humans, animals, and our planet. ProVeg International is a food awareness organisation with the mission to replace 50% of animal products globally with plant-based and cultivated foods by 2040.
