Both sides of politics seem to have lost the plot on the nuts and bolts of the carbon reduction strategy. They are arguing over whether agriculture should be included - and clearly it should not !
The whole purpose of applying a tax to industries that generate carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is to make that process more expensive - and encourage them to move to new methods that reduce carbon output.
For instance, if burning coal to produce electricity is taxed heavily there is incentive to install wind and solar - which will not be taxed.
When we look at agriculture we are examining a law of nature. All living animals - including us - breathe air and exhale carbon dioxide. No matter what taxes are applied, nothing is going to stop cattle belching and pigs and sheep farting - and that is where agricultural carbon emissions come into the equation.
If agriculture is taxed for adding to CO2 emissions it will only increase the price of food - with absolutely no gain in CO2 reductions.
Taxing tractors and agricultural machinery and their fuel has merit - if there is an alternative available, but there is a tendency for fanatacism to distort the debate.
It would be just too easy to end up throwing the baby out with the bath water !
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