Joint statement from COP26 President-Designate and President Alvarado of Costa Rica

COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma and Costa Rica’s President Carlos Alvarado met on 18 March 2021 in San Jose. They released the following statement:

“We discussed the intense pressures that climate change places on Costa Rica and surrounding countries, and agreed that with under eight months to go until countries come together for COP26, the world, and particularly big emitters, must move faster to protect both people and the planet.

“Our countries are committed to leading by example, and the ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions we have each set ourselves hold us to that. The UK is driving forward its green industrial revolution on its path to net zero by 2050, and Costa Rica has an established strategy for a just and resilient decarbonisation of its economy by 2050. We have both shown that by investing in clean recoveries today we can support jobs and wellbeing now and in the future, and we urge our Latin American and Caribbean friends to seize these green opportunities that will also help protect vulnerable communities from the effects of climate change.

“We also reaffirmed the importance of nature and ocean-based solutions as tools to address societal challenges. Such initiatives provide human well-being and biodiversity benefits, and engage with the interests and rights of women, indigenous peoples and Afro-descendant communities and other local communities. Given this region’s unique and precious biodiversity, such action is vital. The upcoming UK-organised Climate and Development Ministerial meeting at the end of March will be a pivotal moment to focus Ministers on these issues.

“We exchanged views on how COP26 could consider the post-2025 climate finance goal in the context of transforming public and private finance flows to align with the Paris Agreement. We underlined the urgent need to scale up finance that can help countries adapt to the impacts of climate change.

“We discussed how Costa Rica can build on its leading role in climate action ahead of COP26. We resolved to continue working closely together to encourage ambitious and meaningful action through initiatives that we’re both proud to champion.”

ENDS.