Statement of H.E. Edgar Gutierrez, Costa Rica, at 2016 Forum

Climate Vulnerable Forum High Level Meeting at COP22

18 November 2016 (10:00 am to 12:00 pm) Marrakech, Kingdom of Morocco

H.E. Mr. Edgar Gutierrez Espeleta, Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica

COSTA RICA is proud to be a founding member of the Climate Vulnerability Forum as a much needed voice that reminds us of the need for ambition and equity and has been among the first countries to aspire to achieve Carbon Neutrality.

We aspire to keep warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius and for that we have set our long term goal to reduce our emissions to 1 TCO2e/capita by 2100.

We aim to update our NDCs before 2020 to fine tune our commitments and define a low emissions development pathway for the rest of the 21st Century.

Costa Rica is convinced that open access to information on climate change and climate action is critical to address current and future climate risks and actions.

We also believe in broad-based stakeholder participation, promoting a whole-of-society and whole-of government approach in pursuit of sustainable development and the convergence of all key stakeholders, both private and government and civil society.

We look forward to engaging with our CVF partners to open to the way to the rapid implementation of the Paris Agreement, while safeguarding its ambition, integrity and spirit.

We invite develop countries and international organizations to support our efforts which is not only just but urgently needed for the sake of the planet and its inhabitants.