Costa Rica is one of the most sustainable countries out there and is not slowing down.  Even after receiving the 2019 Champions of the Earth award, which is the highest environmental honor of the United Nations, the Costa Rican government launched its first National Adaption Plan (NAP) in 2022. The plan is to strengthen the country’s resilience to climate change over the next five years. A big moto for the Costa Rican government is that they must invest in the people in order to improve their environment. This is mainly due to the lack of natural resources such as carbon, steel, and oil. A big reason why they have been able to invest in their people is due to the fact that they abolished their military in 1948. This left them more money to spend on healthcare and education (which they invest around 7.4 % of their GDP in). They believe that the result of a healthy educated population is economic growth, development, and well-being.

The most impressive thing about Costa Rica and sustainability is the comeback it made. From the forties to the eighties massive deforestation happened where half of their forest and greenspace were cut down. Although this did take away from Costa Rica’s beautiful appearance, they were eventually able to turn it into agricultural land. It was only up from here, the government began to promote a series of novel environmental policies, establishing Costa Rica’s long-term sustainable development strategy, transforming public transport system to an eco-friendly system, and more. The focus on sustainability makes Costa Rica seem a lot more impressive especially considering the fact that a lot of bigger countries would not be able to do what they have done.

I am so excited to visit Costa Rica. I can’t wait to see the evolution unfold right in front of me.