Costa Rica’s president, Carlos Alvarado, adamantly believes that sound environmental policy can provide economic benefits. In fact, that was the topic of one of our very first Costa Rica Daily stories, all the way back in November.

Costa Rica’s conservation goals go well beyond its own borders. In January, the country launched the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, which Costa Rica leads alongside France and the United Kingdom. Its goal? To conserve 30% of earth’s land and oceans by 2030.

Currently, the HAC says, only about 15% of the world’s land and 7% of the oceans are protected. 

“Restoring nature is possible, achievable and necessary,” the proposal reads. “But it will take a global effort from all nations.”

Some 50 countries signed onto the “30x30” commitment during the One Planet Summitt for biodiversity earlier this year. Those nations harbor 30% of global terrestrial biodiversity and 28% of ocean biodiversity, the HAC says.

On Wednesday, the coalition added a significant new supporter as the United States indicated it will also pursue the 30x30 goals.

“The United States and the world face a profound climate crisis,” an Executive Order issued by Joe Biden reads. “We have a narrow moment to pursue action at home and abroad in order to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of that crisis.”

Costa Rica, as you’d expect, celebrated the development, which followed the change in U.S. leadership:

Carlos Alvarado Quesada @CarlosAlvQ

With great joy, we congratulate @POTUS on his Executive Order to protect 30% of the lands and oceans by 2030. On behalf of Costa Rica, we will continue to promote this effort in order to maintain a high ambition for people and nature, directing our focus to the 30x30 goal.

Carlos Alvarado Quesada @CarlosAlvQ

🇨🇷 y 🇫🇷 lanzamos junto a Reino Unido la Coalición de Alta Ambición para la Naturaleza y las Personas para conservar el 30% de la superficie terrestre y marina para 2030; nuestro compromiso con el presente y futuro @oneplanetsummit @EmmanuelMacron @antonioguterres https://t.co/q5HhFK9aIR

January 27th 2021

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The HAC frequently cites a McKinsey report which concludes that, in addition to environmental considerations, “doubling nature conservation could create or safeguard 27 million to 33 million jobs and $290 billion to $470 billion in GDP.”

Critics of the HAC (rightfully) note that many of the signatory countries aren’t even meeting their Paris Agreement responsibilities, and that the coalition has nice-sounding goals without detailed plans on how to achieve them.

HAC countries say they’ll work out the details when they meet again later this year at the Convention for Biological Diversity. (It’s tentatively scheduled for May.)

When they do, the U.S. may occupy a position of leadership at that table.

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