Costa Rica is often regarded as one of the greenest countries in the world, and for good reason—their government and culture places a heavy emphasis on implementing a sustainable lifestyle. This fact makes the country even more admirable to me. I am constantly looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly in my daily life, so seeing a country actively make efforts to achieve widespread sustainability is definitely a positive.

One area that they are focusing on is reforestation. They have set aside 28 national parks, which cover 25%-28% of the country’s land. They have also re-established enough forest space so that over half of the country is covered by a canopy of trees. The country is currently 98% free of deforestation, which provides several benefits in the area of climate change.

They have also made efforts to work to increase recycling. The “pay to throw” program has proven to be highly beneficial, resulting in a 469% increase in the country’s recycling rate (a total of 100,200 tons!). This program charges residents for their garbage by weight, therefore encouraging people to recycle as much as possible.  

Another step that they have taken is Law No. 9786, which is named “Law to Combat Plastic Pollution and Protect the Environment.” This law bans the sale or distribution of plastic bags and plastic straws, as well as requiring single-use plastic bottle producers to have a program established for the recovery and recycling of these products. By not allowing these products to enter the community in the first place, it eliminates the issue of them not being disposed of properly.

These initiatives are one reason why I am excited to go to Costa Rica. As someone who is interested in pursuing the sustainability certificate, seeing these initiatives be put into place in real life will be incredibly important.  I can take inspiration from their efforts and be sure to implement these practices into my life and my future work. I am also excited to get out of the dreary Pittsburgh weather and actually see the sun, eat fresh fruit and authentic food, see beautiful scenery, learn more about their culture, and make new friends!