Costa Rica’s government will prioritize the conversion of public transport to cleaner energy as part of efforts to become the first country in the world to achieve carbon neutrality by 2021.
The Minister of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications, René Castro, said today in a press conference that the main emitter of carbon dioxide is the transport sector, especially the public (buses and taxis).
He added that the conversion to clean energy sector will begin next year through a series of actions such as tax and credit facilities to transport entrepreneurs who want to change or convert their vehicles to run, for example, natural gas or electricity.
Castro said that cleaner energy sources than fossil fuels are more profitable for the user, so the government is negotiating with countries producing vehicles using those energies to obtain better prices in exchange for eliminating or reducing income taxes the country.
Another project, but in the long term is the installation of electric trains.
According to official data, Costa Rica annually emits 21.7 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) and forest cover, which reaches 52% of the territory, allows you to set 15.9 million tonnes.
The remaining 5.8 million tonnes is that Costa Rica needs to reduce or offset to achieve carbon neutrality by 2021.
The sector that produces more carbon dioxide in Costa Rica is the energy, mainly transport, followed by industry and power generation fuel.
The other sector that a major polluter is the agriculture industry, in which the use of nitrogen fertilizers is the main factor, followed by methane gas generated by livestock waste.
Minister Castro stressed in agriculture Dota coffee produced by the Coffee Growers Cooperative of Dota (Coopedota), in the mountains south of San Jose, which proved to be carbon neutral after a series of changes in its production process.
Castro said the government will promote this kind of experience in the agricultural export sector, especially among large companies producing pineapple, coffee and bananas.
He stressed that a certification of carbon neutrality Costa Rican product will generate the added value and also help protect the environment and the fight against global warming.
Other measures in the agricultural sector are reforestation plans ranches including financial facilities for property owners planted timber.
EFE
The Costa Rica News (TCRN)
San José Costa Rica
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