Gassy cows and pigs will face a carbon tax in Denmark, a world first

Denmark will tax livestock farmers for the greenhouse gases emitted by their cows, sheep and pigs from 2030, the first country in the world to do so as it targets a major source of methane emissions, one of the most potent gases contributing to global warming. The aim is to reach a 2030 target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 70% from 1990 levels. Although carbon dioxide typically gets more attention for its role in climate change, scientists say methane traps about 87 times more heat on a 20-year timescale. In recent months, farmers across Europe have protested against environmental measures and regulations that they say are driving them to bankruptcy.