Costa Rica consistently ranks in the top 20 of the World Energy Council’s global “environmental sustainability” ranking. This is an impressive and difficult accomplishment that Costa Rica has continued to achieve. They have made a concerted effort to improve and maintain their environmental sustainability as a country with the implementation multiple laws and programs to promote eco-friendly behavior within their citizens. In recent years there has been an increase in laws developed around fostering sustainable ecotourism, ensuring organic and eco-friendly farming tactics and establishing and maintaining it’s national parks.

Costa Rica is home to many different diverse eco-systems that an abundance of species call home. These eco-systems are a pivotal part of Costa Rica’s economy, as they provide a habitat to many rare and exciting creatures and plants, create a great demand for tourism, and produce many of the products that Costa Rica uses in trade. About 28% of Costa Rica’s land is considered protected, which means that a quarter of the countries land is made up of national parks and preserved lands. The protection of this land not only ensures the preservation of Costa Rica’s beautiful environment, but also creates a safe way for tourists to experience the surrounding environment.

Another tactic Costa Rica uses to maintain sustainability is recycling 60% of their waste. This is credited to their “pay as you throw” program. This program encourages residents to recycle their trash instead of creating waste which improves the environment and sustainability of the country. In addition they focus heavily on sustainability of education, to further educate their citizens.

And finally another initiative that Costa Rica takes is generating 99% of their electricity from renewable resources. They have invested heavily in hydroelectric power making 80% of their renewable energy power hydroelectric power. This creates a more sustainable source for energy and minimizes any possible pollution from this area.

All of these initiatives help to make Costa Rica as sustainably efficient as it is. I think it also helps to make Costa Rica have a good image to travellers and to other country and maybe makes them a country to look up to. I am excited to experience some of these things that are unique to Costa Rica when we get there tomorrow (I can’t believe the day is here!) and observe these initiatives in real life.