QCOSTARICA – The Eiffel Tower, was lit up on Monday with “Pura Vida”, the popular phrase that characterizes Costa Ricans or Ticos.
In an image shared on her Facebook page by Costa Rican footballer, Shirley Cruz, the phrase “100% Pura Vida” is seen shining brightly on the French landmark.
The recognition is given to Costa Rica on the first day of the Summit on Climate Change in Paris (Cop21).
The message presumably refers to the country’s record set this year of running for 255 days this year on 100% renewable energy, according to Casa Presidencial.
The cop21, to be held in Paris until December 11, the principal seal a legally binding target to take actions to prevent global warming above 2 degrees Celsius by the end of century agreement.
Headed by Costa Rica’s Christiana Figueres, world leaders opened pivotal climate talks Monday in Paris .
French President Francois Hollande noted that “never have the stakes been so high because this is about the future of the planet, the future of life.” US President Barack Obama has said the UN climate conference in Paris could be a “turning point” in global efforts to limit future temperature rises.
Key issues
Major points of contention include:
- Limits: The UN has endorsed a goal of limiting global warming to no more than 2C over pre-industrial levels by the end of the century. But more than 100 poorer countries and low-lying, small-island states are calling for a tougher goal of 1.5C.
- Fairness: Developing nations say industrialised countries should do more to cut emissions, having polluted for much longer. But rich countries insist that the burden must be shared to reach the 2C target.
- Money: One of the few firm decisions from the 2009 UN climate conference in Copenhagen was a pledge from rich economies to provide $100 billion (93 billion euros) a year in financial support for poor countries from 2020 to develop technology and build infrastructure to cut emissions. Where that money will come from and how it will be distributed has yet to be agreed.
- Advertisement -
