Costa Rica's environment remains far from ideal despite its green branding
In a bid to combat climate change, Costa Rican policy makers have announced an ambitious decarbonization strategy for the country's transport sector. The strategy, considered more like a blueprint for a developed country than for a developing one, aims for a functioning public transportation system to become the main source of mobility, largely replacing private cars in San José.
The strategy includes targets for metropolitan areas, such as the capital, San José, to have all buses and taxis carbon neutral by 2050. However, a significant challenge lies in the cultural barrier to using public transportation in Costa Rica, with concerns about safety being a major concern.
Currently, public transport buses in Costa Rica largely run on diesel fuel, contributing to the transportation sector's responsibility for about 42% of all energy-related carbon emissions in Costa Rica. This sector is also the biggest source of carbon emissions, responsible for some 65%.
To address this, the strategy proposes the use of renewable energy sources, particularly solar power, to power the transport system. Solar power could help overcome the difficulties in the transport sector decarbonization strategy and provide surplus electricity for the transport system. However, it's worth noting that Costa Rica generates only 0.1% of its electricity from solar power.
Costa Rica, however, generates more than 98% of its electricity from renewable energy sources. In 2018, renewable energy sources in Costa Rica broke down to 72% hydropower, 16% wind, 9% geothermal, 0.8% biomass, and 0.1% solar. Hydropower in Costa Rica is largely at its peak, and droughts are becoming more common, threatening the steady supply of electricity from hydrodams.
The Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE) favors building large, centralized ocean power stations over distributed solar generation. The government should consider the potential benefits of solar power, including its ability to provide power exactly when and where it's needed, in the implementation of the energy transition.
The government of Costa Rica has already implemented initiatives to reduce carbon emissions in the transport sector. For instance, promoting the sale of pineapples without crowns, which reduces transport volume and CO2 emissions by at least six percent, is part of efforts to make transport more efficient and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The next few years will be decisive and challenging for Costa Rica's energy transition. The government should engage Costa Ricans at an early stage in the transport strategy to ensure success. Uber and its rivals are not mentioned in the strategy for carbon neutral buses and taxis in San José, suggesting a focus on traditional public transportation systems in the initial stages of the strategy's implementation.
In 2016, the number of new cars registered in Costa Rica was twice the number of babies born, highlighting the urgent need for a shift towards sustainable transport solutions. Thirty years is considered a short time to change a culture in Costa Rica, but with the right approach and public engagement, this ambitious strategy could pave the way for a greener future.
Read also:
- Federal petition from CEI seeking federal intervention against state climate disclosure laws, alleging these laws negatively impact interstate commerce and surpass constitutional boundaries.
- Dim outlook for a major energy corporation
- President von der Leyen's address at the Fourth Renewable Hydrogen Summit, delivered remotely
- Unveiling Innovation in Propulsion: A Deep Dive into the Advantages and Obstacles of Magnetic Engines
