Denmark considers tax on environmentally harmful food

Denmark is considering a tax on food that contributes to climate change, in an attempt to sway consumers towards less harmful food. Particularly beef might become the target of this possible new tax.

Change of mentality

A study has stated that it would make sense to tackle the food industry’s contribution to greenhouse gasses, as it is one of the major polluters in that regard. The idea to tax particular types of food stems from that study. If consumers changed their mentality regarding food, that could be a huge step in the struggle against climate change. Different eating habits could lower the food industry’s effect on the Earth’s climate by about 20 to 35 %. 

Experts say that it is not enough to simply wait for consumers to change their minds themselves, which is why the study proposes to give them a push in the right direction. The Danish Council of Ethics suggests a carbon tax on beef, which could also help public health – although that was not part of the Danish report.