No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsBusinessPresident Solís reaffirms carbon neutrality goal in UN Climate Summit address

President Solís reaffirms carbon neutrality goal in UN Climate Summit address

Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solís doubled down on his country’s pledge to reach carbon neutrality by 2021 during an address at the U.N. Climate Summit in New York, on Tuesday morning. There, the president called on wealthier nations to do more to facilitate climate adaptation and mitigation efforts in middle and low-income nations.

Solís said that his administration would push for a new biofuel bus system and electric railway along with a continued push for renewable energy sources to address climate change.

“This will permit a substantial decrease in metropolitan traffic flow, revolutionize car culture in my country and will significantly reduce the use of private and public vehicles as well as carbon emissions,” Solís said.

Despite the negative impact on Costa Rica’s hydroelectric capabilities due to changing rain patterns, Solís said the country was still able to generate 90 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, including wind and geothermal. The president claimed that once the Reventazón Hydroelectric Project is operational in 2016, Costa Rica’ electrical matrix will be 100 percent renewable.

Solís also called on the globe’s largest carbon dioxide emitters to take a greater leadership role alongside smaller countries like Costa Rica. The president expressed his support for a universal climate change plan and said that any such agreement must “recognize the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.”

“Developing countries cannot continue subsidizing emissions from the most polluting countries. The time for talk is over and the time for action is now,” Solís said.

The president said that continued investment in renewables and energy efficiency would not be possible for middle-income countries like Costa Rica without financial support from wealthier nations.

The U.N. Economic Commission for Latin Ameria and the Caribbean released a report Monday estimating that climate change could cost Latin America and the Caribbean 2.5 percent of the region’s gross domestic product if temperatures rise 2.5 degrees Celsius over the historical average. While Latin America is a low carbon emitter, the region is especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change, according to the report.

Tuesday’s climate summit followed worldwide demonstrations on Sunday in support of a carbon-curbing deal. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon convened the meeting of 130 world leaders to drum up support for scheduled climate talks next year in Paris.

 

Trending Now

Nicaragua Alleges Costa Rican Police Tried to Detain Player

Tensions ran high at the National Stadium here in Costa Rica last night when police officers entered the Nicaraguan team's locker room moments before...

Expat Guide to Bilingual Schools in Guanacaste Costa Rica

When my wife and I moved to Costa Rica we were gloriously young and childless. Needless to say, childhood educational options were absent from...

Costa Rica Defeats Nicaragua 4-1 in World Cup Push

Costa Rica delivered a strong performance last night, defeating Nicaragua 4-1 in their Concacaf World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium. The result marks...

Trump Says He Will End US Aid to Colombia as Tensions Spike

United States President Donald Trump on Sunday accused his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, of tolerating drug production and announced he would end “large-scale payments...

Costa Rica President Narrows Legal Abortion to Life-Saving Cases

President Rodrigo Chaves has repealed Costa Rica's therapeutic abortion protocol, a move that fulfills a long-standing promise and tightens rules around the procedure. The...

Costa Rica Faces Calls to Strengthen Shark Protection Enforcement

Costa Rica faces growing pressure from environmental experts and lawyers to tighten enforcement of laws protecting endangered sharks. Recent court rulings have highlighted gaps...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica