rainman + 263 July 23, 2018 In May, the country's new president, 38-year-old former journalist Carlos Alvarado announced the plan to ban fossil fuels during his inauguration speech. "When we reach 200 years of independent life we will take Costa Rica forward and celebrate… that we've removed gasoline and diesel from our transportation," he promised. Over 99 percent of Costa Rica's electricity is currently generated through renewable energy sources. However, achieving zero-carbon transport, one of any country's big environmental challenges, will be arduous. According to Jose Daniel Lara, a Costa Rican energy researcher at the University of California-Berkeley, the complete elimination of fossil fuels in just a few years — the president's goal — is unlikely. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderBlade + 231 TB July 23, 2018 For now, he announced a plan to eliminate, not a ban. Within 3 years... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Petar + 76 PP July 23, 2018 Objective is to only use renewable energy within their local transportation. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pavel + 384 PP July 23, 2018 I wouldn't mind living in Costa Rica. Maybe it's time to move.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
franco + 96 FM July 23, 2018 So, what's their plans are? They will only drive Tesla's cars and bikes over there? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jpZelabal + 63 jj July 23, 2018 Hm... they're going to destroy rivers with hydro power instead, or have nuclear power? The first is just as bad and the second is even worse. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pinto + 293 PZ July 23, 2018 Nice idea CR. Are you saying no more flying there? No plastics in hospitals? No cell phones? All travel to and from using renewables? Food distribution only using renewables? Basically (if my questions are correct) they have reverted to the 18th century 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
50 shades of black + 254 July 23, 2018 Awesome! Pura Vida !!! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
damirUSBiH + 327 DD July 23, 2018 4 countries that are almost entirely powered by renewable energy:- 1. Iceland 2. Paraguay 3. Norway 4. Costa Rica 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MJG 0 MG July 23, 2018 If this guy is serious and not just appealing to his liberal base,....then CR is doomed. You can't continue to operate in the modern world without oil used in some critical applications. Not a serious proposal. Political dream... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markslawson + 1,057 ML July 24, 2018 Costa Rica gets most of its electricity from hydro power and geothermal (the country has volcanoes). A few per cent comes from solar and wind - hence the 100 per cent renewable, or at least 100 pc until the next drought. Rainfall varies a lot. But eliminating fossil fuels from transport would be nearly impossible in any realistic time frame. As I understand it, the country has very few hybrid or electric cars. The country should start with a realistic policy, such as replacing all buses with electric buses within so many years or whatever, and announce details about how it intends to do it and the cost. Otherwise the president's declaration is just more hot air. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan Warnick + 6,100 July 24, 2018 (edited) 11 hours ago, markslawson said: Costa Rica gets most of its electricity from hydro power and geothermal (the country has volcanoes). A few per cent comes from solar and wind - hence the 100 per cent renewable, or at least 100 pc until the next drought. Rainfall varies a lot. But eliminating fossil fuels from transport would be nearly impossible in any realistic time frame. As I understand it, the country has very few hybrid or electric cars. The country should start with a realistic policy, such as replacing all buses with electric buses within so many years or whatever, and announce details about how it intends to do it and the cost. Otherwise the president's declaration is just more hot air. I believe the president is onto something here, and it totally aligns with the fact, that has recently been confirmed by his enlightened administration, that the world is indeed flat.......:( (sarcasm intended) Edited July 24, 2018 by Dan Warnick Sarcasm clarification added 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TreeHugger + 1 JB July 24, 2018 There is some very attractive geology offshore on the Caribbean side. In the future perhaps Coast Rica can be an oil and gas producing/exporting country that gets most of its energy from renewables. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume Albasini + 851 July 24, 2018 The rapid growth of Costa Rica car fleet is causing huge traffic jams in San Jose and rising the oil imports. Renewables account for close to 100% of electricity generation but only 25% of total energy consumption. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/05/costa-rica-renewable-energy-oil-cars The switch to electric cars is a way to reduce oil imports but it will take some time. Now less than 2% of the cars are EV's and the country has only 20 charging stations. In January Costa Rica has adopted a new law to incentivize electric transport with a long-term view to eliminating hydrocarbon-powered vehicles in the country. The initiative eliminates sales, customs and circulation taxes for electric vehicles and allows them to use municipal parking facilities free of charge. http://www.ticotimes.net/2018/01/26/costa-rica-adopts-new-electric-transport-law-to-reduce-emissions Costa Rica is trying to replicate the incentives that helped to rise the rate of EV adoption in Norway. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites