Costa Rica’s Pioneering Net-zero Implementation Plan Attracts Investment, Withstands Political Changes

Costa Rica's 2019 National Decarbonization Plan established a midcentury net-zero target covering all greenhouse gases and sectors, except international shipping and aviation. The plan utilized a backcasting approach divided into three phases: foundations (2018–22), inflection (2023–30), and massive deployment (2031–50). This robust framework attracted nearly $1 billion in funding from the International Monetary Fund and Inter-American Development Bank, which incentivized the administration of President Rodrigo Chaves to maintain climate objectives despite a campaign focused on changing course from the previous government. Current priorities include the operationalization of 1,000 electric buses and agricultural emissions reduction, with a strategic shift toward attracting large-scale finance for specific sectors.

• The 2019 National Decarbonization Plan set a midcentury net-zero emissions target that encompasses all sectors and greenhouse gases, with the specific exceptions of aviation and international shipping.
• The transition to net zero was structured using a backcasting approach divided into three distinct time-bound phases: foundations (2018–22), inflection (2023–30), and massive deployment (2031–50).
• The plan's ability to survive a major political transition in May 2022 was driven by its success in securing nearly $1 billion in central funding from the Inter-American Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
• Under the current administration, climate priorities have shifted from defining technical pathways toward securing large-scale finance, specifically prioritizing the operationalization of 1,000 electric buses and agricultural improvements.

APA

World Resources Institute (2024). Costa Rica’s Pioneering Net-zero Implementation Plan Attracts Investment, Withstands Political Changes. https://www.wri.org/update/costa-rica-net-zero-plan-attracts-investment-withstands-political-changes

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Costa Rica’s Pioneering Net-zero Implementation Plan Attracts Investment, Withstands Political Changes. 2024. https://www.wri.org/update/costa-rica-net-zero-plan-attracts-investment-withstands-political-changes.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Costa Rica’s Pioneering Net-zero Implementation Plan Attracts Investment, Withstands Political Changes |date=6 March 2024 |url=https://www.wri.org/update/costa-rica-net-zero-plan-attracts-investment-withstands-political-changes |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2024costa, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Costa Rica’s Pioneering Net-zero Implementation Plan Attracts Investment, Withstands Political Changes}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2024}, month = mar, url = {https://www.wri.org/update/costa-rica-net-zero-plan-attracts-investment-withstands-political-changes}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }