Costa Rica

Mitigation Target

Since 2007, Costa Rica has pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2021. This commitment is incorporated into the 2011-2014 National Development Plan (NDP), the country´s highest-level statement on public policy, and the National Climate Change Strategy (NCCS), a long-term strategy for sustainable development that seeks to align the country’s low carbon growth and eco-competitiveness strategies.

Costa Rica's energy sector contributes 46% of its emissions while the agricultural sector (primarily livestock) adds an additional 37%. Waste management and industrial processes jointly add close to 16%. In addition to forest conservation, Costa Rica targets the following areas for mitigation: power generation, agriculture and livestock, solid waste management, transport, and sustainable building sectors. (Data based on 2005 National GHG Inventory.)

Achieving the Target

Costa Rica, through the NCCS, intends to establish a Domestic Carbon Market as the primary policy tool to achieve Carbon Neutrality. It is designed to assist Costa Rica to meet its target in the most flexible and cost-effective way, while also providing a financial incentive to the private sector for investment in low emissions technology research, development,and commercialization, and to develop the country’s eco-competitive strategies. 

The Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) is in charge of implementing the Strategy at the national level, mainly through its Directorate of Climate Change (DCC). The DCC was mandated by Decree No. 35669-MINAET, January 6, 2010. The Decree establishes the context for policy-making within the National Climate Change Program, explicitly through the creation of new capacities and the integration of a platform for knowledge exchange in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The DCC is finalizing NCCS´s Action Plan, which is envisioned as a reference point for policy design and implementation, while strengthening education and public awareness processes.

Other entities directly related to implementation of the country’s climate change agenda are the Costa Rican Office for Joint Implementation (OCIC) which was established in April 1996, National Forestry Financing Fund (FONAFIFO), the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), the Office for Environmental Quality Management (DIGECA) and the National Environmental Technical Secretariat.