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Published Tuesday, February 25,
2020
$10 million-plus project for developing urban green economy By the A.M. Costa Rica staff Authorities of the Ministry of Environment announced Monday work on the draft of a project to make a transition to an urban green economy. The idea is to electrify public transport, reduce the use of private automobiles and to plant thousands of trees. According to the ministry, this project has a cost of $10.3 million to be financed by the Global Environment Fund. "The goal of the project is to achieve decarbonization of the economy in the greater metropolitan area through political, fiscal and integrated urban planning reforms," said the ministry in its statement. The greater metropolitan area includes part of San José Province and also parts of Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago. Also participating in the project are the U.N. Development Program, the U,N, Environment, International Conservation and the International Union for Conservation for Nature. According to the ministry, the project includes the following strategies: - The process of transition to a green economy. - The reforestation process of at least 2,000 hectares. - The generation of economic studies and strategic alliances to stimulate the economy. - Development of sustainable mobility and urban renewal plans for 15 cantons. - The process of exchanging experiences with other countries that have developed sustainable urban planning processes. With this project, the ministry and its international cooperation partners will develop a methodology for the transition to an urban green economy and thereby generating environmental benefits. This project is going to comprehensively address a whole series of environmental challenges in the urban areas, in the metropolitan area and eventually in the provinces, said Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, minister of Environment. "The country has been investing for many years solving environmental problems but focused on rural areas, where deforestation and degradation of natural resources were found and now being clear that most Costa Ricans live in the city and the environmental footprint in urban areas is very high, we are going to concentrate on developing a project that builds the foundations so that in 20 years these cities are very different than we know them today," he added. According to the ministry, the goal of the project is to convert more efficient, greener, decarbonized cities. With more efficient transport systems where mobility is not concentrated in the individual car, but in public transport service that is very likely to be electric. According to representatives of the U. N. Development Program, the value of strategic alliances to generate environmental and financial-economic analyzes, promote forest restoration and sustainable urban planning are the keys for the country to move towards a green and decarbonized economy. “In these times, Costa Rica's commitment as a country for a decarbonized development route, not only should it be highlighted as a global example of ambition in the planning of a country's development, but must be underpinned with the entire decision and support it requires,” said José Vicente Troya-Rodríguez, the U.N. representative. -------------------------------- What could be the first strategies that the country should develop to become a green economy? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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