People in Denmark should replace two-thirds of their meat intake with vegetables as part of efforts to reach the country’s ambitious climate targets by 2030, the Danish Climate Council said on Tuesday.
The council recommended a tax on food that harms the environment. It suggested imposing a tax of around 33% on beef, which is among the products with the most significant climate footprint, the council chairman, Peter Mollgaard, told news agency Reuters.
Denmark has set ambitious goals for reducing its CO2 emissions, with a target of reducing emissions by 70% compared to 1990 levels by 2030. The country has also set a goal of being carbon-neutral by 2050.
To achieve these goals, Denmark has implemented various policies and initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint. For example, the country has invested heavily in renewable energy sources such as wind power. It has set a target of having 100% of its electricity supply come from renewable sources by 2030.
Denmark has also implemented policies to reduce energy consumption, such as building regulations requiring new buildings to meet strict energy efficiency standards. The country invested in public transportation, with a goal of having half of all trips made by bicycle, public transport, or walking.
But Denmark has a relatively high consumption of meat compared to some other countries. Measured on emissions from their diet, Danes are among the world’s most emission-heavy populations. According to the climate council, they consume twice as much animal products, such as beef, pork, and dairy, compared to the global average.
The Danish government has already launched initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable food production and reducing the environmental impact of the country’s agriculture sector, but now also needs its citizens to consume less meat.
