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How to decarbonize a country? President of Costa Rica at KLU

Prof. Dr. Thomas Strothotte with the President of Costa Rica

Young, climate-conscious and innovative - this is how the environmental pioneer among the Latin American countries, Costa Rica, presented itself yesterday during the visit of President Carlos Alvarado Quesada to Kühne Logistics University (KLU). The small state with a population of five million impressed the invited guests with a great vision. By 2050, the country wants build a be carbon-free economy, with the national decarbonization plan providing the roadmap. Doing so, the country is responding to the challenges of climate change.

„Decarbonization is the great task of our generation and Costa Rica must be among the first countries in the world to achieve it, if not the first”, declares the “Decarbonization Plan 2018-2050”. According to the President’s talk at KLU, the country has already made progress, including an electrical grid that is close to 100 percent free of CO2 emissions and a very low rate of deforestation, with forest covering half of its territory.

Decarbonizing the transport sector

In addition, the country is now focusing on a climate-friendly change in the transport sector, according to the president. By 2035, 70 percent of the buses and taxis shall be zero emissions and the passenger train is planned to be 100 percent electric. For the most important export goods - medical products and coffee – the President sees a particular focus on the conversion of ports and airports.

Alan McKinnon, KLU Professor of Logistics, gave a lecture afterwards. He analyzed possible components and options of a decarbonization of freight transport in Europe and thus directly followed the project of the Republic of Costa Rica.

Great cooperation with Latin America Association

"This was a very successful event and a great cooperation with Kühne Logistics University," commented Manuel Neumann, Regional Manager for Costa Rica in the Business Association for Latin America (LAV). "Today we heard very exciting presentations from President Carlos Alvarado and KLU Professor Alan McKinnon. He is a luminary in his field of reducing CO2 emissions in logistics".

KLU President Prof. Thomas Strothotte and Managing Director Fabian Berger welcomed the President of the Republic of Costa Rica and his delegation including the Minister for Foreign Trade, Dyalá Jiménez Figueres, and the Minister for Science, Technology and Telecommunications, Luis Adrián Salazar Solís. The Business Association for Latin America was represented by its board members Frank Smet and Jörn Severloh and General Manager Orlando Baquero.

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