Government Subsidization and the Reduction of Enteric Emissions in the United States

Abstract

This paper explores policy options aimed at the mitigation of methane emissions produced as a byproduct of enteric fermentation in ruminant animals. Through a comparative analysis of government policies utilized in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, this paper explores options for implementation within the United States. After focusing on the extensive subsidies received by the agriculture sector in the United States, this paper concludes that requiring farms and corporations to meet mitigation standards in exchange for subsidies is plausible and has worked in other, comparable foreign industries.