Costa Rica

Overall rating
Almost Sufficient

Policies and action
against fair share

1.5°C compatible
< 1.5°C World

NDC target
against modelled domestic pathways

Almost Sufficient
< 2°C World

NDC target
against fair share

1.5°C compatible
< 1.5°C World
Climate finance
Not applicable
Net zero target

year

2050

Comprehensiveness rated as

Acceptable
Land use & forestry

historically considered a

Sink

Target Overview

Costa Rica’s December 2020 NDC includes a target of 9.11 MtCO2e emissions in 2030 and a cumulative emissions budget between 2021 and 2030 of 106.53 MtCO2e emissions (including LULUCF with global warming potentials, GWPs, from the IPCC’s Second Assessment Report, SAR). The CAT estimates the 2030 target to be 11.9 to 12.5 MtCO2e excluding LULUCF in GWPs from the IPCC’s fourth assessment report (see “Assumptions” section for details). For 2030, this is equivalent to an decrease between or 7% to 11% below 2010 levels excluding LULUCF.

The CAT rates Costa Rica’s 2030 NDC target as “Almost Sufficient" when rated against modelled domestic pathways ("NDC target against modelled domestic pathways"), and "1.5°C compatible" when rated against the fair share contribution ("NDC target against fair share"). Costa Rica does not specify a conditional target or an international element in its NDC, so we rate the unconditional target against the two rating frameworks.

COSTA RICA — Main climate targets
2030 NDC target
Formulation of target in NDC Costa Rica commits to an absolute maximum net emissions in 2030 of 9.11 MtCO2e including all emissions and all sectors covered by the corresponding National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory (Government of Costa Rica, 2020).
Absolute emissions level in 2030 
excl. LULUCF
Level of emissions to be achieved at home:
11.9–12.5 MtCO2e
[7–11% below 2010]
Status Submitted in December 2020
Net zero & other long-term targets
Formulation of target Costa Rica commits to becoming a decarbonised economy with net-zero emissions by 2050 (Government of Costa Rica, 2019c).
Absolute emissions level in 2050 
excl. LULUCF
5.5 MtCO2e
[59% below 2010]
Status Submitted in December 2019

NDC Updates

Costa Rica’s updated NDC, submitted on 30 December 2020, includes two unconditional targets: an absolute single year 2030 emissions target, and a multi-year emissions budget for 2021 - 2030. The absolute emissions target represents a 2% improvement on Costa Rica’s original NDC submitted in 2016.

Costa Rica’s NDC outlines various sectoral measures and targets but does not specify the sectoral breakdown. Specifying the sectoral breakdown or at least the contribution of the forestry sector to its target would improve the climate target’s transparency. Costa Rica’s NDC claims to be 1.5°C-compatible, however this is not substantiated in its submission.

COSTA RICA — History of NDC updates First NDC 2020 NDC update
1.5°C compatible

Stronger target N/A
Economy-wide coverage

Fixed/absolute target


COSTA RICA First NDC 2020 NDC
Formulation of target in NDC The country is committed to a maximum of 9,374,000 tCO2e net emissions by 2030 Costa Rica commits to an absolute maximum net emissions in 2030 of 9.11 MtCO2e including all emissions and all sectors covered by the corresponding National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory (Government of Costa Rica, 2020).
Absolute emissions level
excl. LULUCF
12.2–12.8 MtCO2e by 2030 11.9–12.5 MtCO2e by 2030
Emissions compared to 1990 and 2010
excl. LULUCF
5-9% below 2010 emissions by 2030 7-11% % below 2010 emissions by 2030
CAT rating Overall rating*:
2°C compatible / Almost sufficient
NDC target against modelled domestic pathways:
Almost sufficient
Sector coverage Economy-wide Economy-wide
Separate target for LULUCF No No
Gas coverage All greenhouse gases All greenhouse gases
Target type Absolute emissions reduction (single year target) Absolute emissions reduction (single year target)

* Before September 2021, all CAT ratings were based exclusively on fair share and only assessed a country’s target.

Target development timeline & previous CAT analysis

CAT rating of targets

The CAT rates NDC targets against what a fair contribution to achieving the Paris Agreement’s long-term temperature goal would be as well as against what needs to happen within a country’s own borders. Costa Rica will need support to achieve those needed reductions with its borders.

The CAT rates Costa Rica's target as "Almost sufficient" when rated against modelled domestic pathways ("NDC target against modelled domestic pathways"), and "1.5°C Compatible" when rated against the fair share contribution ("NDC target against fair share"). Costa Rica has not specified whether a portion of the target is conditional on international support or whether its NDC has an international element, so we rate its NDC target against both metrics.

CAT ratings are based on emissions excluding the LULUCF sector. To obtain the NDC emissions level excluding LULUCF, the CAT takes two estimates provided by the Costa Rican government and creates a range. For more details, please see the Assumptions section.

NDC target
against modelled domestic pathways

Almost Sufficient

In the absence of a target conditional on international support, we rate Costa Rica’s unconditional 2030 reduction target as “Almost sufficient” when compared with modelled domestic emissions pathways. The “Almost sufficient” rating indicates that Costa Rica’s NDC target is not yet consistent with the 1.5°C temperature limit but could be, with moderate improvements. Costa Rica’s updated climate target represents an improvement compared to its first NDC, however it is not stringent enough to limit warming to 1.5°C.

To improve its rating and be consistent with the 1.5°C temperature limit, Costa Rica could submit a conditional 2030 climate target that is at least 7% lower than its current unconditional target (equivalent to an absolute emissions limit of 11 MtCO2e excl. LULUCF in 2030) and, if necessary, outline the international support that it would need to achieve it.

NDC target
against fair share

1.5°C compatible

We rate Costa Rica’s 2030 unconditional NDC target as “1.5°C compatible” when compared with its fair-share contribution to climate action. The “1.5°C compatible” rating indicates that Costa Rica’s NDC target is consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C when compared to its fair share. Costa Rica’s NDC target does not require other countries to make comparably deeper reductions or greater effort and is in the most stringent part of its Fair Share range.

Further information on how the CAT rates countries (against modelled pathways and fair share) can be found here.

Net zero and other long-term target(s)

We evaluate the net zero target as Acceptable.

Costa Rica announced a net zero target for 2050 in its National Decarbonisation Plan 2018-2050 (Government of Costa Rica, 2019c). The net zero target generally covers the key elements but does not meet best practice standards for some of them.

Costa Rica’s target covers all sectors and gases underpinned by emissions pathway analysis and the communication of strategic goals and emissions targets per sector. Pathways and key measures are identified comprehensively with interim goals attributable to discernible periods to reach net zero through domestic actions and without the use of international credits.

The Costa Rican government currently fails to provide explicit and transparent assumptions on several key elements. For example, Costa Rica provides no information on its intention to establish a periodic reviewing cycle of measures and interim targets. To further improve its strategy, Costa Rica could provide separate targets for emission reductions and removals and include emissions from international bunkers. The policy document has also not yet been enshrined in law, which could make targets and measures legally binding and more perspicuous.

In 2019, Costa Rica presented its National Decarbonisation Plan 2018-2050 (Government of Costa Rica, 2019c). In this document, Costa Rica sets a national target of net-zero emissions in 2050—emissions including LULUCF—and describes a roadmap towards achieving this target. According to the sectoral breakdown provided in the plan, emissions in 2050 will be 5.5 MtCO2e excluding LULUCF. The pathway towards decarbonisation has been modelled as a linear decrease between 2020 and 2050.

For the full analysis click here.

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