UN Committee Proposes Animal Protein Tax
At this year’s U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, the True Animal Protein Price (TAPP) Coalition ignited debate by calling for new taxes on meat to curb global greenhouse gas emissions. The coalition argued that taxing animal proteins while subsidizing vegetables could incentivize dietary changes necessary for environmental sustainability.
Their proposal aligns with a recent report from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which examined potential impacts of taxation on high-emission foods. TAPP positioned the U.S. and several Western nations as “laggards” in implementing climate-oriented food policies, urging these countries to follow the lead of those they consider “frontrunners” like Switzerland and Denmark.
Willem Branten, TAPP’s public affairs officer, stated at COP29, “We believe that COP29 and UNFCCC conferences thereafter can only be successful if the closing statement includes transitioning away from animal protein overconsumption.”
He emphasized that such a shift should align with national or global dietary guidelines by introducing “greenhouse gas emission pricing mechanisms” within agriculture, hoping for leadership from the EU, OECD, and China on this front.
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Instructs Americans To Eat Fewer Hamburgers https://t.co/pmipzEBXoY pic.twitter.com/HbIWNgvpQ6
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 22, 2019
TAPP’s recommendations signal a broader push for nations to embrace climate-focused food policies and transform the agri-food system. The coalition highlighted subsidies for vegetables as an essential complement to meat taxes, aiming to make environmentally friendly options more affordable and accessible. However, their critique of the U.S., Australia, Canada, and the UK as “lagging” in climate-oriented dietary shifts stands in stark contrast to their praise of several EU countries, raising questions about global consistency in climate policies.
While the discussions focused on sustainable food pricing, COP29’s location itself sparked controversy. Host country Azerbaijan, a major oil and gas producer, has faced ongoing allegations from Amnesty International of human rights violations, including a blockade in 2022 that contributed to food shortages in Armenia.
Furthermore, a study published in Communications Earth and Environment revealed a surge in private jet usage around U.N. climate events, highlighting the paradox of high-emission travel to meetings dedicated to reducing emissions.
President Joe Biden notably opted out of COP29, sending a delegation of senior officials, including White House adviser John Podesta and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, to represent the U.S. Meanwhile, Afghanistan made a historic return to the conference, marking its first attendance since the Taliban regained control in 2021.