Costa Rica Takes the Purest Joy in Setting Records for Environmental Stewardship
Who doesn’t love Costa Rica? With an educational system ranked 20th in the “Global Competitiveness Report 2013–14,” described as of “high quality,” a literacy rate of 94.9%, and a healthcare system that ranks essentially the same, the country’s natural beauty is hardly the only thing to admire.
When it comes to environmental responsibility, however, Costa Rica’s bonafides are even better. Due to a combination of its fortuitous bounty of renewable resources and its commi
tment to excellence in this space, this Central American oasis set an international record in 2016, running its grid with 100% renewable energy (not a molecule of fossil fuels) for more than 250 days.
Now these folks, not resting on the laurels associated with the generation of electricity, have notched up yet another gold medal, becoming the first country on Earth to ban all single-use plastics. Hats off, personas muy respetadas (highly respected persons); you have every right to be as joyful as the girls in the pics here, who happen to be celebrating your hydro resources.
Craig,
You should win an award for your selection of pic’s 🙂
I hate to rain on your paradise and don’t get me wrong there’s much to like in Costa Rica, but let’s get real !
Costa Rica is a very small,mountainous, non-industrialized country with very high rainfall and fast flowing rivers ideal for hydro-electric.
The other fact you overlook is of Costa Rica’s 5 million population, only 40 % are connected to electricity ! (there’s some dispute that another 20% ‘share’ electricity)’
With a per capita income of around $11,000 pa, it may seem from Santa Barbara, California to be Shangri-la, but not so much in the slums of San José Costa Rica !
As I say, don’t get me wrong, in many ways Costa Rica is a very admirable little nation, but just not applicable elsewhere.
I’m not sure many citizens of affluent Santa Barbara, California would swap living conditions, despite the ‘green’ credentials.