Abigail Thomas, Sustainability and Conservation Leader and Board Director 

Key takeaways 

• Costa Rica is a global example of impressive environmental achievements. They stem from government incentives and a culture that takes pride in nature.

• Long-term government decisions have been critical to Costa Rica’s sustainability success.  

• A strong cultural connection with nature underpins environmental action.  

• Sustainability is most effective when it also delivers economic and community benefits.  

• Australia has an opportunity to be bolder in linking climate action with energy security.  

Costa Rica is often recognised for its rainforests, biodiversity and eco-tourism. But behind its natural beauty lies something even more remarkable: a decades-long commitment to sustainability that has positioned the country as a global leader in decarbonisation. 

At a Professionals Advocating for Climate Action event, Sustainability and Conservation Leader and Board Director, Abigail Thomas, shared insights from three months of research she conducted in Costa Rica together with her friend Dr Sarah Andersen. Abigail interviewed almost 50 experts to understand how the small, middle-income nation became a global sustainability leader, and what Australia can learn from its journey. Both Abigail and Sarah documented their trip and key learnings on Substack, in a series of 10 articles titled, Costa Rica Adventure for the Climate Curious. The articles explore whether Costa Rica is a decarbonisation lab for the world.

Bold decisions create lasting change 

Costa Rica’s sustainability achievements didn’t happen by accident. They are the result of decades of consistent investment and a culture that takes pride in its natural world. 

Abigail highlighted how the country has invested in renewable energy since the 1970s, driven by economic benefits and the need for greater energy security. Today, around 99% of Costa Rica’s electricity comes from renewable sources. 

Equally significant were policy decisions that embedded sustainability into everyday life. Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948 and redirected those funds towards education, healthcare and environmental protection. It also introduced incentives for conservation, paying landowners to plant more trees and not to cut down trees. In the 1990s, the government decided to focus on sustainable tourism, which now represents 10% of the country’s GDP. 

These bold government decisions have been reinforced by passionate community advocates who successfully championed conservation initiatives that were later embedded in legislation. 

A culture that values nature 

Beyond policy, Abigail observed that Costa Rica’s environmental success is deeply rooted in its culture. 

The philosophy of Pura Vida, or “Pure Life”, reflects a way of living that embodies a close connection to the natural world, resilience and the acceptance of life. Throughout her travels, Abigail constantly found people with deep knowledge and a strong sense of pride in their local wildlife, forests and landscapes. 

She also witnessed multigenerational change, with children of former hunters now working as guides in national parks and conservation areas. Rather than viewing sustainability as a separate agenda, Costa Rica has woven environmental stewardship into its national identity. 

Successes and challenges can exist together 

Despite its global reputation, Costa Rica continues to face significant sustainability challenges. 

Abigail described how growing energy demand is placing pressure on its renewable energy system. She added that transport has become the country’s largest source of emissions due to limited public transport availability creating an uptick in the use of fossil-fuel powered vehicles.  

Agriculture remains heavily reliant on pesticides and fertilisers, and waste management continues to present challenges, with low recycling rates and inconsistent waste collection. 

At the same time, Abigail highlighted inspiring examples of local innovation, such as the development of mushroom-based building materials and the use of black soldier fly larvae to create high-quality protein. Abigail also described her experience visiting an Indigenous community that have set up a sustainable venture that preserves culture and generates income.  

What does this mean for Australia? 

Abigail concluded by sharing what Australia could learn from Costa Rica.

She believes Australia could use environmental education and storytelling to reconnect people with the natural environment and ignite a passion for protecting it. Further reflecting on her research, Abigail highlighted that conservation is only viable if local communities benefit economically. 

Perhaps the most enduring lesson from Costa Rica is that lasting change requires both bold leadership and a shared sense of purpose. Policy can set the direction, but culture, community and long-term commitment are what ultimately sustain the journey. 

Further reading 

• See the series of articles Abigail wrote on Substack here: Costa Rica Adventure for the Climate Curious 

About the speaker 

Abigail Thomas is a Sustainability and Conservation Leader and Board Director. She spent three months in Costa Rica researching the country’s sustainability journey and has since authored Costa Rica Adventure for the Climate Curious, a series of 10 articles on Substack about Costa Rica’s sustainability achievements and what we can learn from them. 

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