It has caused irritation in the Liberal Party that Minister of Employment and acting political spokesperson Peter Hummelgaard (S) on Wednesday criticized the Liberal Party for not announcing that the party wants a CO2 tax for agriculture.
The criticism fell after the Liberal Party presented its economic 2030 plan earlier on Wednesday as part of the election campaign before the general election on November 1. But the party would like that, but only under certain conditions, says climate spokesperson Marie Bjerre (V) in a written comment.
- In relation to a CO2 tax on agriculture, the Liberal Party would like a CO2 tax, she says.
- But we condition ourselves that it be designed in a way that it transforms agriculture, which agriculture itself also wants. Because we will not agree to a CO2 tax that sends jobs out of the country and closes down Danish food production. That will not do anything good for the climate.
- We must create a sensible CO2 tax that can support the green transition towards more climate-friendly foods, and which at the same time ensures that Denmark maintains its status as a green pioneer country, says Marie Bjerre.
Agriculture accounts for around a third of Denmark's greenhouse gas emissions. It is therefore very important to reduce emissions significantly if Denmark is to achieve the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent by 2030 compared to the level in 1990.
Will wait for expert group
On Sunday, Venstre chairman Jakob Ellemann-Jensen was asked the following question by moderator Cecilie Beck during the TV debate on TV 2 between the three prime ministerial candidates Mette Frederiksen (S), Jakob Ellemann-Jensen (V) and Søren Pape Poulsen (K).
- Wouldn't it be fair to demand from agriculture that they pay the same CO2 tax as industry does?
Jakob Ellemann-Jensen's answer was as follows:
- It would be super smart if you could do it.... I know I'm referring to a working group, and it sounds like that something that politicians do when we think that someone else should take responsibility.
- But listen, we have set up this working group to come up with a solution because you have the challenge that production methods are now the way they are.
The Liberal Party chairman referred to the "working group" as the expert group that a political majority, including both the Social Democrats and the Liberal Party, has set up.
Postponed until next year
This autumn, the Commission was supposed to have come up with proposals for how a CO2 tax for agriculture could be set up, but due to the election, it will be postponed until next year.
The Social Democrats have said that the party would like to have a CO2 tax for agriculture, but the government party is awaiting the expert group's assessments in relation to how high the tax should be.
In June, the Liberal Party proposed 2020 a uniform CO2 tax in a joint proposal with the Danish Social Democrats. Earlier this year, a broad political majority adopted an agreement on a green tax reform, which included a CO2 tax.
/ritzau/
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