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New Zealand may tax farm animal burps

Cow Burps - Level 0

New Zealand wants a tax on burping and farting sheep and cows. Burping and farting creates a lot of methane. This is a damaging greenhouse gas. The new "burp tax" would start in 2025. New Zealand has over 26 million sheep. New Zealand says it needs to cut the amount of methane it puts into the atmosphere.

Farming and burping cows make up 14.5 per cent of greenhouse gasses. Farmers will change how they farm. Cows may have to eat seaweed instead of grass to lower emissions. They may also have to wear masks. Farmers will also plant more trees. New Zealand's farmers support this. They want to help the environment.

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Cow Burps - Level 1

New Zealand wants to start a tax to help the environment. The tax is on sheep, cows and other animals. These create a lot of methane when they burp or fart. Methane is a damaging greenhouse gas. The new "burp tax" would start in 2025. New Zealand has over 20,000 farms, 26 million sheep and 4 million cows. New Zealand's climate change minister said: "There is no question that we need to cut the amount of methane we are putting into the atmosphere."

Farming makes up 14.5 per cent of global greenhouse gasses. This comes from animals burping and farting, animal waste, clearing land and transporting animals. Farmers will have to change how they farm. Cows may have to eat seaweed instead of grass and wear masks. This will lower emissions. Farmers will also plant more trees. New Zealand's farmers support the government. They want to do their bit for the environment.

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Cow Burps - Level 2

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New Zealand wants to introduce a new tax to help the environment. It wants farmers to pay tax on their farm animals. Sheep, cows and other animals create a lot of methane when they burp or fart. Methane is a damaging greenhouse gas. It is a big cause of climate change. The new "burp tax" would start in 2025. New Zealand has over 20,000 farms. These have 26 million sheep, 4 million cows and other animals. James Shaw, New Zealand's climate change minister, said: "There is no question that we need to cut the amount of methane we are putting into the atmosphere."

Farming animals makes up 14.5 per cent of global greenhouse gasses. This comes from animals burping and farting, animal waste, clearing land and transporting animals. Mr Shaw wants farmers to pay tax on the methane their animals produce. He also wants farmers to change how they farm. He wants cows to eat seaweed instead of grass. This will produce fewer emissions. Farmers can also reduce their tax by planting more trees. Another suggestion is for cows to wear masks. New Zealand's farmers support the government. They want to do their bit for the environment.

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Cow Burps - Level 3

New Zealand is thinking about introducing a new tax to help the environment. It wants farmers to pay tax on the numbers of farm animals they have. Sheep, cows and other livestock create a lot of methane. This is one of the most damaging greenhouse gases. It is a big cause of climate change. Animals release methane every time they burp or fart. The "burp tax" would take effect in 2025. New Zealand has over 20,000 farms. There are around 26 million sheep, 4 million cows and other animals in the country. James Shaw, New Zealand's climate change minister, said: "There is no question that we need to cut the amount of methane we are putting into the atmosphere."

Farming animals accounts for around 14.5 per cent of global greenhouse gasses. This comes from animals burping and farting, animal waste, clearing land for animals and transporting animals. Mr Shaw wants farming to be more environmentally friendly. Farmers will have to pay a kind of tax for the methane their animals produce. Shaw also wants farmers to change the way they farm. He wants them to feed their animals on seaweed instead of grass. This will produce fewer emissions. Mr Shaw also said farmers can reduce the tax they pay by planting more trees. Another suggestion is for cows to wear special masks. New Zealand's farmers support the government. They want to do their bit to help the environment.

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25 online activities    |    27-page printable    |    2-page mini-lesson