“Ridiculous” federal incentive to reduce cow burps will likely cause beef prices to rise

By Isaac Lamoureux

The federal government unveils a new climate policy incentivizing farmers to reduce how much their cows burp.

Revealed at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, the Reducing Enteric Methane Emissions from Beef Cattle protocol will encourage beef cattle farms to reduce methane emissions by improving animal diets to make the cows less gassy.

In 2021, agriculture was responsible for 31% of Canada’s total methane emissions, mostly from enteric fermentation produced by beef and dairy cattle, the federal government says. Methane is released into the air when cows burp.

If successful in reducing their cow burps, farmers will have an opportunity to generate credits that they can sell to other companies who need to reduce emissions but haven’t yet accomplished doing so.

“It’s the latest in a series of climate change announcements made by Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault at the global climate conference, and just like the others, it will cost you,” wrote Brian Lilley of the Toronto Sun.

The protocol necessitates costly changes in cattle diets and management, an expense that will inevitably be passed down to beef consumers, Lilley argued.