Costa Rica launches plan for zero emissions by 2050

Costa Rica have made plans to become one of the first nations to completely decarbonise.

‘The National Decarbonization Plan 2018-2050’ involves commitments to a range of sectors, including transport, energy and agriculture.

The plan was launched on Sunday by President Carlos Alvarado Quesada and former UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres.

Christina Figueres took to Twitter to congratulate the country on such an ambitious and much needed plan.

Congrats to Costa Rica for its ambitious #Decarbonization Plan to move away from #FossilEnergies towards #CleanDevelopment. The world is far from achieving its goals against #ClimateChange but with Costa Rica's example, I’m optimistic that together we can do it. @PresidenciaCR pic.twitter.com/pspWYm5lkx

— Patricia Espinosa C. (@PEspinosaC) February 24, 2019

The newly devised plan involves ensuring the electric grid is capable of operating with 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030, according to The Climate Group.

The President also announced plans to make 70 per cent of buses and taxis zero-emission by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2050.

Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, The Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica, said: “These transformations are not new to the country, we have done it before. We are a tropical country that stopped deforestation and tripled our per capita income, which generates 99% of our electricity from renewable sources, we abolished the army and instead decided to invest in education. Costa Rica is ready for the challenge of decarbonization."

To combat the problem of deforestation, the plan also includes a goal to ensure that the rainforest makes up 60 per cent of Costa Rica’s land cover.

Amy Davidsen, Executive Director of North America at The Climate Group, said: “All governments should look to Costa Rica as a leading example of the commitment and urgency to develop their own decarbonization plans to address the greatest challenge of our time – global warming.”