 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||
 -Published: Thursday, December 19, 2019 President
Alvarado presents Decarbonization Plan at U.N.
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff President Carlos Alvarado gave a speech Wednesday at the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development event organized by the SDG Lab. This took place at United Nations offices in Geneva, Switzerland. The SDG Lab is a United Nations initiative that contributes to the implementation of the international agency's sustainable development goals. "Our responsibility is to take the legacy left by our ancestors and take it to the next level to have an appropriate response for future generations," Alvarado said in his speech. Alvarado presented his National Decarbonization Plan, to be developed from 2018 to 2050. Also, he presented a summary of good practices, challenges and opportunities to connect people with nature for an inclusive and fair transition of the economy. "Doing the right thing is practical and possible," Alvarado said in his speech. He also recommended that representatives from other countries incorporate an ambition plan like the one Costa Rica has, remembering that environmental ambition is not only ethically correct but it is profitable. According to Alvarado's thesis, studies have shown that the implementation of the changes contemplated in the Decarbonization Plan will generate a profit of $19.5 billion for the Costa Rican economy. According to Alvarado, Costa Rica's historical contributions to the environment are that electrical generation has been produced 99% from renewable sources, the country managed to reverse deforestation and in 2015 launched the NAMA coffee program, a sustainable way to produce coffee. The goal of the event organized by SDG Lab was to highlight the main challenges and potential solutions to improve the health of people and the planet and accelerate compliance with the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda. Wednesday Alvarado also presented his Decarbonization Plan to representatives of the Sustainable Finance Geneva financial sector in search of funds to implement the actions contemplated in his project.  In September, in a ceremony held at the United Nations General Assembly, the president Alvarado received the 2019 Champions of the Earth award, in the category of “Political Leadership” for his National Decarbonization Plan 2018-2050. “On behalf of the people of Costa Rica, I want to thank you for this recognition that is consistent with our legacy. It is what the generation of my parents and grandparents created for Costa Rica,” said President Alvarado, upon receiving the award. According to President Alvarado, "Costa Rica is as an example to the world. It is an experiment that is friendly to the environment. By working with renewable energy to generate employment and growth it is not antagonistic, to the contrary, it is possible, and Costa Rica is proof of that." "This is also for the generation of my son and for the young people who are raising their voices. Because it is also their world we have to work for," said President Alvarado. "Costa Rica is an example for the region and the world," said Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN Environment Program. "Climate change demands urgent and transformative action from all of us and, with its ambitious plan to decarbonize the economy, Costa Rica lives up to that challenge. ” The Champions of the Earth award is the maximum environmental award of the United Nations. It recognizes pioneers who are working to protect the planet, from political leaders to environmental defenders or technological innovators. According to the government, Costa Rica is among the five Earth Champions this year among which are the Fridays for Future student movement, the Ant Forest platform, the Canadian climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, and the American clothing brand Patagonia. In Latin America, Michelle Bachelet, former president of Chile, for her outstanding leadership in the creation of marine protected areas and for promoting renewable energies in 2017 has also been distinguished with this award. Another winner was Mexican environmentalist José Sarukhán Kermez, for a life of leadership and innovation in the conservation of biodiversity in Mexico and the world in 2016. In 2013, the winner was former Brazilian Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira, for her vision and key role in reversing Amazon deforestation in 2013. ------------------------ Could the country reach zero-emissions in the next 31 years? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
       |
|
...
     |
