National Decarbonization Plan

Thanks to the formulation of a series of specific national strategies and plans, made possible by the PdD:

• Costa Rica is one of the few countries with a clear and concrete objective for its NDC: the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and one of the first to propose a strategy to achieve it. 
• In addition to the document that presents the strategies, axes and goals of the PdD, the study Costs and benefits of decarbonization of the Costa Rican economy was prepared, which estimates the benefits and costs of implementing the plan. 
• It is a rigorous and high-level research that concludes that decarbonization is beneficial for all sectors of the country. The PdD was successfully articulated with other country planning tools such as the 2050 National Strategic Plan and the National Adaptation Policy, which underpins its implementation regardless of political changes. 
• The PdD has attracted several sources of funding, including $54.1 million from the Green Climate Fund, $60 million from the Carbon Fund, a $400 million loan from the IDB, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the South Korean government, and $10.3 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

Regarding the processes promoted, the Progress Report on the implementation of the National Decarbonization Plan to 2021, highlights that 61% of the goals set for the period 2018-2022 were completed and identifies, among others, the following achievements:

• An electric bus pilot project was implemented on two public transportation routes, which allowed us to identify funding sources to scale up to more bus fleets. 
• An electric light-duty vehicles pilot project for commercial use has been implemented in three Costa Rican companies. 
• 20 municipalities are implementing actions to improve mobility conditions in their cantons, including the design and construction of bicycle lanes and the reconciliation of regulatory plans in neighboring cantons. 
• A total of 373 electric vehicles purchased with sustainable criteria entered the fleets of 37 public institutions. 
• More than 98% of electricity nationwide has been generated from renewable energy sources sin 2018. 
• The National Composting Plan 2020-2050, which seeks to reduce the amount of organic matter sent to landfills, was made official. 
• Progress has been made in implementing the Coffee NAMA and the livestock NAMA; NAMAs have been formulated for rice, sugarcane and musaceae. 

• The PdD promotes the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by establishing a roadmap for the decarbonization of the economy. 
• Examples include efforts to introduce electric vehicles in public and institutional transportation and to encourage their commercial and private use, as well as the implementation of NAMAs in the agricultural and livestock sector.  
• The PdD supports the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by reconciling forest cover with agricultural systems, as well as protecting, restoring and managing rural and urban ecosystems. 
• The PdD contributes to reducing the vulnerability of communities to climate change by offering a series of tools that align the public investment system with a focus on mitigation and adaptation.
• The PdD promotes adaptation to climate change by encouraging the design and improvement of urban areas through the implementation of Nature-Based Solutions.  
• The PdD is an example of participatory construction of public policy, as it brought together different sectors, institutions, academia and civil society in the construction of the plan and requires a collective effort for its successful implementation. 

• Because of the type of commitments involved in adopting a long-term strategy for the decarbonization of the economy, strong and clear governance is required, with high-level political leadership and technical strength to guide science-based discussions. It is essential that the proposal for a long-term national plan be technically very robust, on the basis of which consensus can be built on a country vision. 
• In the Costa Rican case, it is also valuable to consider the interaction of the PdD with other country planning tools such as the 2050 National Strategic Plan and the National Adaptation Policy 2018 - 2030, which can ensure that similar plans are maintained despite political changes. 
• The dialogue must be carried out with the participation of different sectors, academia and broad participation of civil society, accompanied by a strong communication process in order to educate and sensitize the population.