My name is Rylie Banks, and I am from Akron, Ohio. I am a business student pursuing a major in human resources, possibly continuing my education in law school. I am very excited to go to Costa Rica as this is a fantastic opportunity. I immediately applied after hearing about the Plus 3 Program in my freshman Career Success class. I can’t wait to get to know the group I am traveling with, the Costa Rican culture, food, people, and its beauty. I want to learn how the people live their everyday lives and what it is like to work on these coffee and banana plantations. I am interested in learning more about the history of Costa Rica from the people living there. I am so excited to meet the family I will be with for these two weeks and start this journey. 

In Costa Rica, sustainability is not a practice but a way of life. With 93% of electricity being from renewable resources and 30% of the country’s territory being protected natural land, Costa Rica is a model for its sustainable efforts for industries worldwide. Costa Rica promotes sustainability through its numerous natural parks, rainforests, reserves, and ecological tours. Tourism is very important for Costa Rica’s economy, so they have made themselves known for promoting sustainable tourism. The Costa Rican government has implemented policies, such as banning single-use plastics and protecting natural parks to preserve natural resources. Sustainability initiatives like renewable energy projects are possible through the tax incentives that Costa Rica offers. The focus on sustainability makes Costa Rica seem very impressive, efficient, and caring about the environment. 

Costa Rica and the whole Central American nation plan to decarbonize its economy by 2050. This plan includes strengthening the Public Transport Council and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, along with public and private transportation being solely electric. While the U.S. has 20% of its renewable energy, Costa Rica has run 100% on renewable energy for over 300 days. Costa Rica focuses on hydroelectric power but also implements wind and solar power. In my surface-level research on Costa Rican sustainability, tropical agriculture, coffee, or bananas did not appear, which is surprising because these plantations are a big part of tourism. I am excited to learn more in-depth about the sustainability of this country after seeing it in action firsthand.