Costa Rica presents plan to reduce carbon emissions by 2050

It's time to pack my bags and move to Costa Rica. The tiny country of Central America gives the example with a complete decarbonization plan by 2050.

President Carlos Alvarado officially signed the Decarbonation Decree on Sunday mid-century. On Monday, he went on to announce that the country would also extend its moratorium on oil exploration until 2050. The government has extended this practice since the 2002 moratorium, so hopefully it will continue the tradition after 2050 also. In short? Costa Rica is doing what we all need to do.

Costa Rica has been working on carbon neutrality since last May and was aiming to become carbon neutral by 2021. The new plan no longer mentions this date, but we finally have a road map showing how to reach the carbon neutral. zero objective. net emissions. As the Guardian notes, this does not end emissions, but only allows what can be offset by the country's forest carbon reserves. Costa Rica, for its part, emits only 12,000 kilotonnes of greenhouse gases a year. The United States, on the other hand, emits more than 12 million kilotonnes, according to data from the World Bank.

Costa Rica's plan provides for the decarbonization of four sectors: transport, industry, waste management and agriculture. The country has set targets by 2050, such as a zero – emission public transit system by 2035 and a fully renewable electricity grid by 2030.

Part of its strategy includes a "just transition" that ensures that no one (particularly fossil fuel workers and frontline communities) is left behind in the transition to a green economy.

Do not make mistakes, though. It will not be easy. Decarbonising the transport sector, which accounts for 60% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions, will be particularly difficult. In addition, the fossil fuel industry provides the country with essential tax revenues, the Guardian reports. The country needs to put in place a kind of "green tax reform" to replace this source of income.

However, if anyone proves that it is possible, Costa Rica certainly has it. The Latin American country produced all of its electricity on a renewable basis for 300 full days last year, the fourth year in a row that more than 98% of the country's electricity comes from renewable sources.

Climate change is going to hit this part of the world hard. (It is not surprising that Latin Americans are the most worried about the global crisis.) Climate models paint an unpredictable picture of Central America, with more storms, floods and droughts. In Costa Rica, sea-level rise could reduce coastlines and higher temperatures could affect agricultural production, according to the United Nations Development Program.

Similar future scenarios exist for all of us around the world. But if we act quickly on the climate, they are not inevitable. Costa Rica, at least, takes up the challenge.

Earther contacted the country's Ministry of Energy and Environment to clarify the timetable. We will update when we get back.