Petroleum reduction puts Costa Rica a step ahead of the rest in Latin America

By NAYELLI BERMUDEZ

Last year during his second official speech, Costa Rican president Carlos Alvarado, a 38-year old politician and writer, announced his plan to reduce Costa Rica’s use of fossil fuels.

This week, President Alvarado launched his plan. Under President Carlos Alvarado’s leadership, Costa Rica is striving to become the first country to stop the use of petroleum. Costa Rica’s government has put in place a plan to stop their petroleum use for good by 2050. Using the National Discarbonation Plan, the Costa Rican government could achieve zero emissions by 2050 if everything goes according to plan.

Costa Rica’s plan to reduce its emission has many goals, which can be accomplished in 3 separate stages:

1. Beginning
2. Turning Point
3. Mass Deployment

The first stage will be accomplished from 2018 to 2022, the second from 2023 to 2030 and the final from 2031 to 2050. These goals will be accomplished in many ways from implementing new laws to speed up the process to finding ways to raise money for the project.

According to Costa Rica’s National Meteorological Institute, about 43% of the emissions coming from Costa Rica are transport-related. Costa Rica’s announcement of zero-emittance by 2050 was heard worldwide. Many believe that an idea this big coming from a small country is a good idea. Many countries followed in pursuit, including Great Britain, France and Italy, who also have zero-emission plans aimed for 2050. Even Germany looks to reduce its emission by 95%.