Costa Rica’s war on climate change

Vice president looks to Korea to ‘fight the enemies of the environment’


For many years, the small nation of Costa Rica has been leading the war against the negative affects resulting from climate change.

In Korea, Costa Rica has found an ally in this battle.

“This is a very important issue. There are many companies that profit from not controlling their emissions and polluting the environment, we want to fix that,” said Costa Rica Vice President Alfio Piva during an exclusive interview with The Korea Herald.

“Those companies use a lot of political pressure on governments to continue their actions so that’s why some governments move very slowly in finding ways to react to the issue of climate change and the increase of CO2.”

Costa Rica produces 95 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy sources. Furthermore, 25 percent of its land is protected by the government to be used as parks.

Three years ago, Costa Rica made a pledge to become a carbon neutral country by 2021.

While some countries are cutting their trees faster than they can grow, Costa Rica decided to go in the opposite direction to reforest their landscape.

“We are working in geothermic and aeolic energy, which is also improving our green industries and I know Korea is working hard on improving their green energy sector,” he noted.

“That’s why (Korea and Costa Rica) are working together in finding ways to improve these new technologies and energy solutions for the future,” added Piva.

Production from industries is not the only factor that increases CO2 in the environment. Another important factor is the human consumption of animal products like meat and dairy.

“This is also a big problem we have to fix,” he said. “We have to find ways to reduce human consumption made from animal origins that produce pollution.”

In this regard, Piva looks towards the Korean diet which is filled with fruits and vegetables.

“It’s a very good example how a good healthy diet doesn’t affect the environment when you produce all these vegetables,” he noted.

“If all countries follow the European or American production system, then we will need four planets to sustain our life and we only have one planet.”

To change the possible effects from climate change, Piva explained that there needs to be a complete consensus from governments, industries and individuals to change their current ways of thinking and find concrete actions and plans to achieve the goals of reducing the harmful affects produced by climate change.

“We really need to try to fix this problem because if this imbalance keeps going, it will be the end of humanity,” he said.

In the political and diplomatic fora, Piva said that dialogue needs to continue so that all parties reach an agreement.

“In this case, Korea is playing an important role as did Costa Rica four years ago but we are a small country and Korea is now a major economy,” he said. “This is a great example of how a big economy and small country can work together to fight the enemies of the environment.”

Costa Rica is one of the most sustainable countries in the world. They follow a development model that tries to deliver a happy life to its citizens at zero cost to the environment.

The Costa Ricans are No. 1 on the Happy Planet Index; their secret is found in the way they live their lives.

From government officials to border guards to everyday citizens, Piva said that Costa Ricans secret is found in their “peaceful mind.”

“We don’t have an army. We protect our environment very well and we are confident that we conduct our businesses and external policies in a fair and honest manner.

“We don’t have to go so fast and believe that we are doing the right things at the right moment at the right place,” he said.

The Costa Rican government also does not believe that economic growth is the end-all to a society’s existence.

“If the economy grows at 4 percent instead of 7 percent, it does not mean that the country is 3 percent happier,” Piva noted. “The true measure is how you grow and to enjoy whatever you do in life.”

Another reason why Costa Ricans are so happy is that the money they used to spend on the military is diverted to education which amounts to 8 percent of their GDP.

Piva was also in town to start the processes for next year’s festivities marking the 50th anniversary of the start of diplomatic relations between Korea and Costa Rica.

His trip is also the first step in preparing for the visit of Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla next year.

“We are also looking for ways to promote the beginning of free trade talks between Korea and Costa Rica and other SICA (Central American Integration System) member countries,” he said.

By Yoav Cerralbo (yoav@heraldcorp.com)