Costa Rica: A climate success story - by Laurence Cuvillier and Matthieu Comin

In the space of just a few years, the small Central American nation of Costa Rica has become a global laboratory for decarbonisation. Costa Rica is the world's only tropical country that has managed to reverse the process of deforestation: forests now cover more than half its surface. It’s also one of the few countries to get almost all its electricity (99 percent) from renewable sources. Costa Rica's inspiring and bold example reflects badly on major world powers, which have considerably more resources available to achieve their climate goals.

Costa Rica abolished its army back in 1948, and 99 percent of its energy is renewable. The small country is an exception in Latin America. Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado Quesada sat down for an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24. Ahead of November's COP26 conference in Glasgow, he laid out several concrete proposals to fight climate change and sounded the alarm, saying: "The biggest challenge of this generation is decarbonisation and fighting climate change."

Read more at: Costa Rica: A climate success story - Reporters

Soccer World Cup 2014: Netherlands Defeats Costa Rica on Penalty Kicks - by Jere Longman

With a World Cup quarterfinal in the closing moments of extra time on Saturday, Louis van Gaal, the coach of the Netherlands, made a move that was as bold as it was rare.

As penalty kicks loomed in a 0-0 game, he replaced his starting goalkeeper, Jasper Cillessen, with Tim Krul, who had not played in the tournament but was confident to the point of haughtiness in a 4-3 victory in the shootout.

After growing frustrated against Costa Rica, which seemed mostly content to sit back, surrender possession and play for penalty kicks, the Dutch became assured and clinical. The Netherlands made all of its penalty kicks, and the 6-foot-4 Krul made two dramatic saves after appearing to try to intimidate the Costa Ricans.

Some commentators found his animated behavior unsporting, but Krul’s teammates mobbed him and his country celebrated an improbable hero as the Oranje advanced to a semifinal against Argentina on Wednesday in São Paulo.

“That is not normal,” Krul, 26, said of spending about 120 minutes on the bench and then entering with the pressure of advancing his team.

Read more: World Cup 2014: Netherlands Defeats Costa Rica on Penalty Kicks - NYTimes.com

Costa Rica: Sea Turtle Extinction -- Not Caused By Global Warming

We have just discovered why the sea turtle is going extinct and it is not as a result of global warming.

Turtle eggs are collected by Costaricans on Turtle breeding beaches and sold as a local delicacy. Shame on the Costa Rican government for not stopping this.

For more: JT IRREGULARS: Sea Turtle Extinction -- Not Caused By Global Warming

CostaRicaPages.com: Costa Rica negotiates Free Trade Agreement with EU - by John K

For the full report from the CostaRicaPages.com click on this link

Costa Rica negotiates Free Trade Agreement with EU - by John K

Representatives from Central America (CA) and the European Union (EU) met yesterday, March 17th, to negotiate new trade policy. The meeting is a preliminary part of the Association Agreement between the EU and the six countries that make up the Central American isthmus (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama). One of the key elements being proposed by the Central American committee is the lowering of tariffs imposed on certain agricultural products to allow for more competitive trade. The CA representatives are requesting that fruit, flowers, plants and most agricultural products are allowed to enter the EU tax free. Another part of the proposal is that preferential treatment is given to dairy products and pork meat and derivatives. Preferential treatment in this case means that these products will be not be allowed to enter the EU market entirely tax free, but they will have a pre-established quota.

In 2003, the market made up of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Nicaragua accounted for 0.4% of EU exports and was the source of 0.3% of EU imports. This may not seem like much right now and that is exactly what the Association Agreement wants to change. The EU offers a large and wealthy market for our agricultural products like banana, melon, pineapple, flowers, ornamental plants, fruit juices and concentrates, and hearts of palm.

Latin Business Chronicle: Costa Rica & CAFTA: approval opens the way for Costa Rica to continue to negotiate an Association Accord with the EU

For the complete report from the Latin Business Chronicle click on this link

Costa Rica & CAFTA: approval opens the way for Costa Rica to continue to negotiate an Association Accord with the EU

Foreign investors and Costa Rican exporters breathed a sigh of relief after the results of Sunday's CAFTA referendum in Costa Rica. Despite several polls showing a majority against the treaty, in the end it passed. With 98.4 percent of the votes counted, supporters of CAFTA boasted 51.6 percent, while opponents had 48.4 percent.

The approval also opens the way for Costa Rica to continue to negotiate an Association Accord with the European Union (EU) alongside other Central American countries, Global Insight analyst Marion Barbel said in a commentary Monday. The EU had postponed the start of talks until after Costa Rica's vote. Negotiations will start in two weeks - October 22 - in Costa Rican capital San Jose. (The EU talks also include Panama, which is not a member of CAFTA, while excluding the Dominican Republic, which is.). A rejection of CAFTA in Costa Rica would likely have complicated negotiations with the EU, which generally prefers to negotiate with larger groups instead of individual countries.