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As we attain the depths of January (and due to this fact the depths of Winter for our readers within the Northern Hemisphere), we thought we’d present each some escapism and a constructive story to beat these January blues.
On this piece we take a more in-depth take a look at Costa Rica, typically thought of an environmental success story and a shining instance for different international locations to observe.
Nestled in Central America, between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, with Nicaragua to its north and Panama to its south, Costa Rica is an ecological treasure. Whereas it solely makes up 0.03% of the world’s floor, it comprises almost 6% of the world’s biodiversity (spectacular, proper?!).
Past this, it has constructed up some fairly sturdy environmental and social growth credentials – let’s examine them out!
So.. what’s so good about Costa Rica?
As we’ve already briefly talked about in certainly one of our earlier articles – 70 years in the past, after a short civil battle, Costa Rica determined to abolish its army and as an alternative divert the funds to environmental and well-being initiatives. This was simply the beginning of being a real front-runner on the subject of constructing a sustainable future.
Environmental Safety and Conservation
Like lots of its neighbouring international locations, logging turned large enterprise in Costa Rica within the twentieth century. Within the 1940’s, round 75% of Costa Rica was lined in rainforest. By 1987, it’s believed that between half to a 3rd of this cowl was destroyed by logging.
To guard the setting, in 1997 the federal government carried out the Funds for Environmental Providers (PES) Programme. This initiative provides cash to landowners who take actions to guard the pure setting, similar to conservation of biodiversity, clear water sources and carbon storage. This stage of cost was labored out in order that it could be extra profitable for landowners to guard their land than clear it.
Immediately, 60% of the land is reoccupied by forest, and the programme is now funded utilizing a 3.5% tax on fossil fuels. The Programme has given over €420 million to landowners in among the poorest areas of Costa Rica, serving to deal with poverty whereas defending the setting.
Alongside the PES programme, the federal government has now protected 25% of the nation’s land, which has been put aside as Nationwide Park areas and different reserves, with 28 Nationwide Parks throughout this comparatively small nation!
Renewable Power
Greater than 98% of Costa Rica’s power comes from renewable sources. In 2017, it set a world document when it ran for 300 consecutive days on renewable power – a critically spectacular achievement.
So… how has it managed this?! Costa Rica has a pure geography that enables it to capitalise on renewable power, each from ‘conventional’ sources like wind and photo voltaic, but additionally – due to its massive river community, excessive rainfall, and volcanoes – hydroelectric and geothermal energy. It will get 67.5% of its power from hydroelectric energy, with an additional 17% from wind and 13.5% from geothermal. Not solely is the supply of its power good for the planet, however it additionally has common entry to electrical energy, the very best in any nation in Central America.
This being mentioned, the nation’s demand for oil is growing, so why is that?
An enchancment in residing requirements in addition to the event of the nation as an entire has led to extra expendable earnings amongst Costa Rican residents, who in flip are shopping for extra vehicles; the variety of automobiles in Costa Rica has tripled within the final 30 years. With the variety of individuals in a position to afford vehicles growing, oil demand is anticipated to proceed rising.
What now?
Costa Rica is a number one nation in its efforts to preserve the pure world and tackle local weather change. For all of its efforts, it obtained the United Nations Champions of the Earth award for Coverage Management in 2019. Like many different international locations, Costa Rica has vowed to decarbonise by 2050 – nevertheless, in contrast to many different international locations, it has made actual efforts to show these commitments into real-life transformative insurance policies.
In 2019, it printed a complete Pure Decarbonisation Plan detailing its path to internet zero by 2050. This exhibits clear alerts of Costa Rica’s dedication to decarbonise throughout all sectors of its financial system. The Plan is structured across the following areas:
Power (transport – collective, personal and freight, electrical energy networks, residential and industrial sector utilization).Industrial Processes.Residues.Agriculture.Forestry and different land makes use of.
For every of those areas, the Plan lays out short-, medium- and longer-term actions and the associated coverage packages that may be taken to make sure transformation in these areas is achieved.
In contrast to many international locations the place decarbonisation is proven as extra of an inconvenience, the Plan frames these insurance policies in a constructive means, the place decarbonisation is one thing that is sensible to do – one thing different governments ought to take note of.
The Plan additionally particulars methods to deal with its shortfalls in its decarbonisation journey thus far, particularly its transport sector and its rising demand for oil to fulfill its rising automobile demand. There are large plans to broaden and electrify its public transport community with each extra buses and trains to scale back demand for automobile possession, in addition to upgrading its electrical energy networks in order that they have the capability to help a wider rollout of Electrical Car charging factors.
Inside these upgrades to electrical energy networks, the Plan particulars methods to combine storage techniques and distributed technology, which means that the earlier 300-day streak of working on renewable power could also be everlasting within the not too distant future for Costa Rica.
The Pura Vida Approach of Life
Past its clear coverage commitments, there’s a normal mindset in Costa Rica which is attuned to nature and the setting. The nation’s unofficial slogan is ‘Pura Vida’ – which immediately interprets to ‘pure life’.
The Pura Vida philosophy encompasses an optimistic outlook and a carefree and relaxed way of life. That is embodied in Costa Rica by selecting to reside harmoniously with the pure world and embracing sustainable practices.
We reckon integrating the Pura Vida mindset is one thing we must always all attempt to perform a little extra of in 2024!
Be Curious
Have a learn of Costa Rica’s Pure Decarbonisation Plan – it’s an attention-grabbing perception into a formidable agenda-setting decarbonisation plan that many international locations ought to take heed of.
Watch Gaia Vince’s TV present ‘Escape to Costa Rica’ which exhibits what a phenomenal and particular nation it’s (she is a journalist and scientist who writes nice books too by the best way!).
Learn George Monbiot’s article which provides extra element into how the Costa Rican authorities laid the foundations for it to grow to be the success story it’s right this moment.
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