President Carlos Alvarado together with the first lady, Claudia Dobles, recently presented the Decarbonization Plan of Costa Rica. The plan is based on the Paris Agreement that seeks to limit the increase in global temperature well below 2 ° C above pre-industrial levels. Climate science is clear; to get there we need to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to zero between 2050 … [Read more...] about How much is it going to cost to decarbonize the transport sector in Costa Rica?
Is there an affordable way to make voters love energy price hikes?
Your government wants to increase gasoline prices. Are you in? If you are like most people, the answer is no. You commute using public transport, or maybe you use your own car. Either way, a gasoline price hike may hurt your budget. Research conducted at the Inter-American Development Bank shows there could be an affordable way for governments to make you love gasoline price … [Read more...] about Is there an affordable way to make voters love energy price hikes?
A Fifth of Power Plants Globally Could Need to be Stranded to Meet Climate Goals
To maintain global warming below 2°C, the world needs to switch to carbon-free electricity. But energy investors seem to disagree. Coal, gas, and diesel plants are a big chunk of the trillions of dollars scheduled to be invested in expanding power production capacity over the coming years. Those investments are at risk of becoming stranded assets. They may need to be shut … [Read more...] about A Fifth of Power Plants Globally Could Need to be Stranded to Meet Climate Goals
How Does Climate Change Affect Latin American and Caribbean Jobs?
Can climate change have an impact on Latin American and Caribbean jobs? Although they might seem as unrelated matters, the reality is that climate change has the potential to disrupt labor markets in the region both directly (through events such as floods, hurricanes, heat waves, and changes in precipitation patterns) and indirectly (through changes in regulations and policies … [Read more...] about How Does Climate Change Affect Latin American and Caribbean Jobs?
Three steps to a zero carbon future
Coal by Thomas Bresson - COPYRIGHT © (CC BY 2.0) - FLICKR Zero carbon emissions, before the end of the century. This is what it will take to stabilize global temperature below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, the objective countries have set during the Paris Agreement. Academics and government agencies around the world agree reaching zero emissions is technically possible. … [Read more...] about Three steps to a zero carbon future