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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.
Back to the cow burps lesson.
