The Amnesty

From being North America’s biggest beef supplier to becoming a pioneer in carbon neutrality. In 2019, the country released their National Decarbonization Plan, which if all goes well, renders the country carbon neutral by 2050.

In the 1950s, Costa Rica was dominated by forest and today they are demonstrating keen willingness to return to this utopic state. The major destruction of the forest cover occurred during the 1970s when the global fast-food industry boomed and demanded more space for agricultural purposes. It is estimated that roughly half of the forest was destroyed by the late 1980s. However, today that has changed once again and 52% of the land has been restored to its original thriving state. This was achieved by a combination of the banning of chopping down trees without official approval and the introduction of the PES scheme by the Costa Rican government. The PES scheme, Payments for Environmental Services, pays farmers to conserve biodiversity or mitigate carbon dioxide emissions. Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, Costa Rica’s minister for environment and energy, stated that “we have learned that the pocket is the quickest way to get to the heart.” He realised that people are more likely to care about environmental issues if there is a monetary incentive. The scheme is primarily funded by the nation’s tax on fossil fuels, therefore utilising profit from an industry that predominantly damages the environment to help restore it. In combination with other implemented environmental policies, the PES scheme had a positive impact on forest regeneration and in turn the improvement of biodiversity.

The National Decarbonization Plan paints out a green and sustainable future for the Costa Rican economy with a balance of long-term goals and immediate action. The main areas that are being focussed on to achieve decarbonization are: transport and sustainable mobility, energy, waste management and agricultural land use. By 2050, all public transport and taxis will be zero emissions and the energy system will have transitioned to be completely renewable. This is key in reducing global warming pollution. In fact, Costa Rica set a new world record in 2017 when they ran on 100% renewable energy for 300 days consecutively. Additionally, the country is focussing on developing strategies to reduce the methane emissions from its organic waste and by 2050 they aim to have increased the current 52% of forest cover to 60% in order to improve biodiversity. The combination of these goals creates a realistic plan for Costa Rica to successfully achieve decarbonization and attain a sustainable future. 

“No one country can solve the climate challenge on its own. Every country has a responsibility to ensure they are not further contributing to negative impacts. Costa Rica’s decarbonization plan is an excellent example for the rest of the world to follow.”

Christina Figueres, former UNFCCC Executive Secretary and Convener

A single country cannot tackle the anthropogenic impacts on the environment, but in doing what they can, Costa Rica has become a role model for the rest of the world. They recognise that responding to climate change is essential for mankind’s survival and that transformational shifts in how we live is vital. The only criticism that Costa Rica faces is the need for greater urgency in the battle against climate change. How can we predict the state the Earth will be in when 2050 eventually arrives? If mankind continues to develop at the current rate, 2050 has gloomy prospects. Despite this, in an overall sense, the country places itself as a world leader in sustainability and reducing the effects of climate change. In turn, this will improve the citizen’s quality of life and ultimately create a happier, healthier nation.

Rachel White