Costa Rica wants to become the world's first carbon-neutral nation
2007 Costa Rica's President Oscar Arias had a worldwide highly recognized grand entrance when he announced his plan to turn Costa Rica finto the first carbon-neutral nation.
Our time is nearly expired, but we still have a chance,he mentioned when publishing his demands, that he wants to accomplish with the assistance of the United Nations.
The main aspect is creating alliances with the carbon-neutral nations. As a country attracting 2 million tourists every year mainly because of the versatile nature Costa Rica has a special interest in protecting and conserving his environment.
And it didn't end with the creation of plan, different activities were undertaken to achieve the aim of being carbon-neutral. More than half of the country is now reforestad which mean a duplication of the forest area since 1987. And also the amount of national parks has been increased, today more than 25% of the country is a protected area.
In referente to the energy production Costa Rica is already nearly carbon-neutral, 95% of the electricity is generated by water power and geothermal energy. And not only the government has been engaged as environmentalist but also prívate companies foremost of the tourism industry recognized the mood of the times and contribute to the aspired carbon-neutrality.
Many of them were going to buy certificates for the carbon-emission caused by them to afford reforestation. The car rental company Hola Rent a car has decided to go another way: It started about 25 years ago to buy forest areas respectively to reforest them. More than 100.000 trees are now forming a tropical forest of 120 hectares.
We understand it as our obligation to contribute to the conservation of our environment,
explains manager Rolando Ramirez.
Through our forests we convert more carbon dioxide than our cars produce. And we assist in helping Costa Rica to conserve the natural treasures that makes it so special.
