Costa Rica Outlines Decarbonization Plans Through 2050

Costa Rica, already on its way to going carbon neutral by 2021, recently introduced its long-term decarbonization plans. Announced a few weeks ago, the National Decarbonization Plan organizes itself into three periods: beginning (2018-2022), inflection (2023-2030) and massive deployment (2031-2050).

The National Decarbonization Plan outlines a variety of steps it hopes to accomplish over the next 31 years. Divided by when the government hopes to achieve them, these goals include:

By 2022

  • Release public data on its cargo fleet’s carbon emissions and release a preliminary plan to increase its efficiency.
  • Outline a plan to lower organic waste methane

By 2030

  • Finish transitioning the power grid to 100 percent renewable energy
  • All new buildings will be designed to use green technologies
  • Culture will move towards lower waste generation with businesses shifting to a circular economy
  • Increase the country’s forest cover by 60 percent and reverse damage to natural ecosystems

By 2035

  • Seventy percent of buses and taxis will release zero emissions and shift the passenger train system to using 100 percent electric power.
  • Twenty-five percent of private and institutional vehicles will be electric

By 2050

  • The public transport system (buses, taxis, passenger train) will replace the private car as the public’s main mode of transportation
  • One hundred percent of buses and taxis will be zero emissions
  • Increase non-motorized transport by at least 10 percent within main urban areas
  • Sixty percent of private and institutional vehicles will be zero emissions
  • All sold private and institutional vehicles will be zero emissions
  • Half of cargo transport will be highly efficient, with a 20 percent reduction in emissions compared to 2018
  • Electric energy will become the main power source for transport, residential, commercial and industrial sectors
  • All commercial, residential and institutional buildings will hold to low emission standards
  • Industries will have switched their energy sources so that their growth does not rely on emissions
  • Have a solution for the collection, separation, reuse and disposal of waste
  • The agriculture and livestock industry will use the latest technologies to become as sustainable, competitive, low-carbon and resilient as possible
  • Grow available green areas within urban areas and improve transportation to protected areas

For more details, the plan is available online here.

Related Stories

CLIA Strives to Cut Carbon Emissions Across Industry Fleet

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Launches Carbon Offset Program

Bay Gardens Resorts Is Reducing its Carbon Footprint

Costa Rica’s New Tourism Minister Outlines Plans to Promote Destination