The Danish Council of Ethics, a government think-tank which comprises 17 members, has recommended a tax on red meat, saying that beef is “incomparably the most climate-damaging food”.

The council issued a press release on Monday 25 April, saying that climate change is “an ethical problem” that needs to be addressed, and one way of addressing it is through “ethical consumption”.

The council asked: “Should it be left to consumers whether they want to buy climate-damaging foods, or should there be social regulation to reduce food’s climate impact?”

Subsequently, a vast majority of the council recommended an initial tax on red meat, saying it would be a form of “climate tax”.

“This will clarify the issues around climate change and food for consumers and lead to restricted spending,” the report from the council said.

It added that in the long term, the tax should apply to all foods depending on climate impact: “Ideally, there should be a tax on all foods based on climate impact, but in the short term, a tax on the most harmful foods, meat ruminants will probably be most feasible”.

The proposal will now be put forward for consideration by the Danish government.

Agriculture is responsible for 40% of methane emissions in the EU. In Ireland cattle accounted for 88.7% of methane emissions in 2011.

Comment

Paddy Donnelly, vice-chair of the IFA livestock committee, says he would have serious concerns over a country bringing in a tax on red meat.

“All commodities are on the ground at the moment, including beef," Donnelly said. "Ireland does its best to produce good-quality beef in the most sustainable manner. I would have serious concerns over a country setting a precedent by bringing in a tax on red meat.”

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