New Zealand’s proposed flatulence tax, which is the world’s first, has hit a snag after the opposition National Party withdrew its support for the He Waka Eke Noa proposal. The initiative seeks to make farmers pay for their individual nitrous oxide and methane emissions, rather than relying on national averages. The move follows growing criticism of the agriculture sector, which is the biggest producer of greenhouse gases and comprises half of New Zealand’s total emissions, yet is exempt from its emissions trading scheme. However, National Party leader Christopher Luxon said his party could not agree with cutting sheep and beef farming by 20% to reach the country’s climate goals and would instead release an agriculture emissions policy. Meanwhile, the Climate Change Minister accused the National Party of fishing for votes ahead of the general election.