As someone who loves the environment, hearing that Costa Rica is top 20 in Global sustainability really excites me. Initially, when I thought of Costa Rica, I thought of a vacation destination with beautiful beaches and a diverse ecosystem. While this is true, Costa Rica is also a leader in the fight for a sustainable future with a country and economy that prioritizes conservation. These values will hopefully ensure future generations can enjoy the natural beauty of Costa Rica.

Costa Ricans use many approaches to ensure that their country remains sustainable. One of these approaches is that the country produces 93% of its electricity from renewable resources. In comparison, the U. S generates approximately 20% of its electricity from renewables. This is a very impressive feat and it will be interesting to see how this affects the country as a whole. Costa Rica also has 30% of its territory protected. Since it is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, this allows countless species to be protected. This preservation effort also helps to prevent further deforestation and allows for less climate change since fewer rainforests will be destroyed.

I am excited to go to Costa Rica to experience a different culture. Staying in a country that speaks a completely different language than me and has different customs will allow me to grow. It will be very cool to see the biodiversity of the rainforest and the way Costa Ricans integrate sustainability into their day-to-day lives. I also feel that this experience will help me learn a different approach to environmental problems, helping me in my future career as a civil engineer.