Tax meat and dairy to cut emissions and save lives, study urges

Surcharges of 40 per cent on beef and 20 per cent on milk would compensate for climate damage and deter people from consuming as much unhealthy food

clock • 5 min read

Climate taxes on meat and milk would lead to huge and vital cuts in carbon emissions as well as saving half a million lives a year via healthier diets, according to the first global analysis of the issue....

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Taxation

Analysts warn energy bills still set to rise, despite VAT cut
Taxation

Analysts warn energy bills still set to rise, despite VAT cut

Cornwall Insight calculates decision to remove VAT from electricity will save average household £44, but bills are still set to climb two per cent due to rising gas prices

James Murray
James Murray
clock 21 July 2026 • 4 min read
Burnham announces 'immediate action' to remove VAT from domestic electricity bills
Taxation

Burnham announces 'immediate action' to remove VAT from domestic electricity bills

Decision will cut energy bills for average household by £45 a year and reduce running costs for heat pumps and electric vehicles

James Murray
James Murray
clock 21 July 2026 • 5 min read
Study: Food labelling and carbon pricing could cut UK emissions by five per cent
Taxation

Study: Food labelling and carbon pricing could cut UK emissions by five per cent

New analysis calculates that a tax on the most emissions-intensive foods could slash climate impacts and deliver wider social benefits

James Murray
James Murray
clock 20 July 2026 • 3 min read