Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly Let the Escazú Agreement Expire: What It Means for the Environment

Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly has officially archived the Escazú Agreement, a landmark regional environmental treaty, after four years of inactivity. According to media reports on February 1, 2023, the bill to ratify the agreement expired at the end of the four-year legislative term, meaning it will be permanently shelved unless the Executive Branch decides to reintroduce it.

The Escazú Agreement, signed by 24 Latin American and Caribbean countries, aims to guarantee environmental rights, access to information, and protection for environmental activists. Costa Rica, often seen as a global environmental leader, is now notably absent from the list of ratifying nations.

Legal expert Nicolas Boeglin highlighted that the current administration, which took office in May 2022, is unlikely to resubmit the treaty. This decision has drawn criticism from environmental groups who argue it undermines Costa Rica’s commitment to climate justice and transparency.

For now, the future of the Escazú Agreement in Costa Rica looks uncertain, leaving activists and citizens without the enhanced legal protections the treaty would provide.

Article source: informa-tico.com | Image credit: The Tico Times