Costa Rica seeks from this Sunday to become a world leader in the decarbonization of the economy and to do its bit in the fight against climate change. It intends to do so through an ambitious plan that aims to abolish the use of fossil fuels in the year 2050 and boost clean energies.
The National Decarbonization Plan 2018-2050 was presented by the President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado; the First Lady, Claudia Dobles; the Minister of Environment and Energy, Carlos Rodríguez; while the official event was led by the Costa Rican Christiana Figueres, leader negotiator of the Paris Agreement against climate change.
The National Decarbonisation Plan envisages changes in the offering of mobility and public and private transport, in the management of forms of energy, in sustainable construction and industry, as well as in the waste management. The initiative also includes guidelines to improve agricultural practices and land use, preventing deforestation.
Goals of the National Decarbonization Plan
The goals of Costa Rica include among others to have 70% of zero emissions buses and taxis in 2035 and an electric passenger train already in operation.
By 2050, the country intends to have a totally clean public transport system that replaces private vehicles as the main mobility option.
Another goal is that by 2035 25% of the private vehicles fleet be electric and in 2050 the total sales of new light vehicles be zero emissions and 60% of the total vehicle fleet be zero emissions.
Costa Rica also plans for 2030 that its electricity matrix operate at 100% with renewable energy and that by 2050 electric power be the primary energy source for the transport, residential, commercial and industrial sectors.
Costa Rica, a country of 5 million inhabitants that holds about 5 percent of the planet’s biodiversity, is recognized for its environmental policies that have allowed it to protect a third of its territory through national parks and increase forest cover from 20% to 55% from 1980 to present.
“This is the great challenge of our generation, it is a commitment that we take as a government but in which we must all participate. Climate change is the main challenge for the next 30 years, global warming is the main threat to the country, the region and the world, “said Alvarado.
With this National Decarbonization Plan, Costa Rica also intends to become a global decarbonization laboratory, attracting scientists, investors and companies interested in issues such as clean energy and environmental conservation.
The negotiating leader of the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Costa Rican Christiana Figueres, said that Costa Rica is at the forefront of the world with this initiative. “The message that Costa Rica sends to the world today is that we are going towards a dramatically different country, with many benefits and once again at the forefront of the countries. These are very brave and visionary positions that lead us to a different 21st century Costa Rica, that will be competitive, healthy, clean and fair, and this produces pride and enthusiasm, “she said.
In the framework of this day, the president of Costa Rica signed the Mobility and Cycling Safety Act, which promotes and regulates the use of bicycles as a means of transportation, work and recreation, to benefit health and reduce the use of fossil fuels in transportation.
Costa Rica holds 5% of the planet’s biodiversity
Costa Rica, a country of 5 million inhabitants that holds about 5 percent of the planet’s biodiversity, is recognized for its environmental policies that have allowed it to protect a third of its territory through national parks and increase forest cover from 20% to 55% from 1980 to present.
This country also produces 99% of its electricity with clean sources but its main pending task is fossil fuels, especially in transport, which generates 70% of the polluting gases.
