TEDSummit
Monica Araya: A small country with big ideas to get rid of fossil fuels
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How do we build a society without fossil fuels? Using her native Costa Rica as an example of positive action on environmental protection and renewables, climate advocate Monica Araya outlines a bold vision for a world committed to clean energy in all sectors.
Monica Araya - Climate advocate
In 2015 Monica Araya's native Costa Rica produced almost all of its electricity from renewable sources. She advocates for the next step: a fossil-fuel-free world. Full bio
In 2015 Monica Araya's native Costa Rica produced almost all of its electricity from renewable sources. She advocates for the next step: a fossil-fuel-free world. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:13
How do we build a society
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without fossil fuels?
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This is a very complex challenge,
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and I believe developing countries
could take the lead in this transition.
could take the lead in this transition.
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And I'm aware that this
is a contentious statement,
is a contentious statement,
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but the reality is that so much
is at stake in our countries
is at stake in our countries
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if we let fossil fuels stay
at the center of our development.
at the center of our development.
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We can do it differently.
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And it's time, it really is time,
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to debunk the myth
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that a country has to choose
between development on the one hand
between development on the one hand
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and environmental protection,
renewables, quality of life, on the other.
renewables, quality of life, on the other.
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I come from Costa Rica,
a developing country.
a developing country.
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We are nearly five million people,
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and we live right in the middle
of the Americas,
of the Americas,
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so it's very easy
to remember where we live.
to remember where we live.
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Nearly 100 percent of our electricity
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comes from renewable sources,
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five of them.
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(Applause)
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Hydropower, geothermal,
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wind, solar, biomass.
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Did you know that last year,
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for 299 days,
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we did not use any fossil fuels
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in order to generate all our electricity?
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It's a fantastic achievement,
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and yet, it hides a paradox,
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which is that nearly 70 percent
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of all our energy consumption is oil.
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Why?
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Because of our transportation system,
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which is totally dependent
on fossil fuels,
on fossil fuels,
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like it is in most countries.
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So if we think of the energy
transition as a marathon,
transition as a marathon,
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the question is, how do we get
to the finish line,
to the finish line,
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how do we decarbonize
the rest of the economy?
the rest of the economy?
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And it's fair to say
that if we don't succeed,
that if we don't succeed,
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it's difficult to see who will.
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So that is why I want
to talk to you about Costa Rica,
to talk to you about Costa Rica,
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because I believe we are a great candidate
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in pioneering a vision
for development without fossil fuels.
for development without fossil fuels.
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If you know one thing about our country,
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it's that we don't have an army.
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So I'm going to take you back to 1948.
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That year, the country
was coming out of civil war.
was coming out of civil war.
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Thousands of Costa Ricans had died,
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and families were bitterly split.
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And yet, a surprising idea
won the hearts and minds:
won the hearts and minds:
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we would reboot the country,
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and that Second Republic
would have no army.
would have no army.
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So we abolished it.
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And the president at the time,
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José Figueres,
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found a powerful way
by smashing the walls of an army base.
by smashing the walls of an army base.
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The following year, 1949,
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we made that decision permanent
in the new constitution,
in the new constitution,
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and that is why I can tell you that story
nearly 70 years later.
nearly 70 years later.
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And I'm grateful.
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I'm grateful they made that decision
before I was born,
before I was born,
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because it allowed me
and millions of others
and millions of others
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to live in a very stable country.
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And you might be thinking
that it was good luck,
that it was good luck,
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but it wasn't.
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There was a pattern of deliberate choices.
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In the '40s, Costa Ricans were given
free education and free health care.
free education and free health care.
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We called that social guarantees.
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By abolishing the army,
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we were able to turn military spending
into social spending,
into social spending,
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and that was a driver of stability.
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In the '50s --
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(Applause)
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In the '50s, we started
investing in hydropower,
investing in hydropower,
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and that kept us away from the trap
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of using fossil fuels
for electricity generation,
for electricity generation,
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which is what the world
is struggling with today.
is struggling with today.
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In the '70s we invested in national parks,
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and that kept us away
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from the deeply flawed logic
of growth, growth, growth at any cost
of growth, growth, growth at any cost
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that you see others embracing,
especially in the developing world.
especially in the developing world.
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In the '90s, we pioneered payments
for ecosystem services,
for ecosystem services,
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and that helped us reverse deforestation
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and boosted ecotourism,
which today is a key engine of growth.
which today is a key engine of growth.
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So investing in environmental protection
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did not hurt our economy.
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Quite the opposite.
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And it doesn't mean we are perfect,
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and it doesn't mean
we don't have contradictions.
we don't have contradictions.
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That's not the point.
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The point is that,
by making our own choices,
by making our own choices,
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we were able to develop resilience
in dealing with development problems.
in dealing with development problems.
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Also, if you take a country like ours,
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the GDP per capita
is around 11,000 dollars,
is around 11,000 dollars,
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depending on how you measure it.
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But according to
the Social Progress Index,
the Social Progress Index,
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we are an absolute outlier
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when it comes to turning GDP
into social progress.
into social progress.
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Abolishing the army,
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investing in nature and people,
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did something very powerful, too.
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It shaped the narrative,
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the narrative of a small country
with big ideas,
with big ideas,
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and it was very empowering
to grow up with that narrative.
to grow up with that narrative.
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So the question is,
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what is the next big idea
for this generation?
for this generation?
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And I believe what comes next
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is for this generation
to let go of fossil fuels for good,
to let go of fossil fuels for good,
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just as we did with the army.
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Fossil fuels create climate change.
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We know that,
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and we know how vulnerable we are
to the impacts of climate change.
to the impacts of climate change.
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So as a developing country,
it is in our best interest
it is in our best interest
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to build development without fossil fuels
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that harm people in the first place.
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Because
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why would we continue importing oil
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for transportation
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if we can use electricity instead?
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Remember,
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this is the country
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where electricity
comes from water in our rivers,
comes from water in our rivers,
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heat from volcanoes,
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wind turbines, solar panels,
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biowaste.
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Abolishing fossil fuels means
disrupting our transportation system
disrupting our transportation system
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so that we can power our cars,
buses and trains with electricity
buses and trains with electricity
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instead of dirty energy.
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And transportation, let me tell you,
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has become an existential issue
for us Costa Ricans,
for us Costa Ricans,
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because the model we have
is not working for us.
is not working for us.
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It's hurting people,
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it's hurting companies,
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and it's hurting our health.
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Because when policies
and infrastructure fail,
and infrastructure fail,
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this is what happens on a daily basis.
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Two hours in the morning,
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two hours in the evening.
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I don't understand why
we have to accept this as normal.
we have to accept this as normal.
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It's offensive
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to have to waste our time like this
every single day.
every single day.
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And this highway is actually quite good
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compared to what you see
in other countries
in other countries
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where traffic is exploding.
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You know, Costa Ricans call this "presa."
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Presa means "imprisoned."
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And people are turning violent
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in a country that is otherwise
happy in pura vida.
happy in pura vida.
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It's happening.
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So a lot is at stake.
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The good news
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is that when we talk
about clean transportation
about clean transportation
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and different mobility,
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we're not talking about
some distant utopia out there.
some distant utopia out there.
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We're talking about electric mobility
that is happening today.
that is happening today.
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By 2022, electric cars
and conventional cars
and conventional cars
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are expected to cost the same,
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and cities are already trying
electric buses.
electric buses.
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And these really cool creatures
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are saving money,
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and they reduce pollution.
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So if we want to get rid
of oil-based transportation, we can,
of oil-based transportation, we can,
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because we have options now
that we didn't have before.
that we didn't have before.
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It's really exciting.
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But of course,
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some get very uncomfortable
with this idea,
with this idea,
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and they will come and they will tell you
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that the world is stuck with oil,
and so is Costa Rica, so get real.
and so is Costa Rica, so get real.
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That's what they tell you.
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And you know what the answer
to that argument is?
to that argument is?
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That in 1948, we didn't say
the world is stuck with armies,
the world is stuck with armies,
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so let's keep our army, too.
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No, we made a very brave choice,
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and that choice made the whole difference.
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So it's time for this generation
to be brave again
to be brave again
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and abolish fossil fuels for good.
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And I'll give you three reasons
why we have to do this.
why we have to do this.
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First,
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our model of transportation
and urbanization is broken,
and urbanization is broken,
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so this is the best moment
to redefine our urban and mobility future.
to redefine our urban and mobility future.
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We don't want cities
that are built for cars.
that are built for cars.
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We want cities for people
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where we can walk and we can use bikes.
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And we want public transportation,
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lots of it,
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public transportation
that is clean and dignifying.
that is clean and dignifying.
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Because if we continue
adding fleets of conventional cars,
adding fleets of conventional cars,
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our cities will become unbearable.
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Second, we have to change,
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but incremental change
is not going to be sufficient.
is not going to be sufficient.
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We need transformational change.
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And there are some
incremental projects in my country,
incremental projects in my country,
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and I am the first one to celebrate them.
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But let's not kid ourselves.
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We're not talking about ending up
with really beautiful electric cars here
with really beautiful electric cars here
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and a few electric buses there
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while we keep investing
in the same kind of infrastructure,
in the same kind of infrastructure,
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more cars, more roads, more oil.
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We're talking about
breaking free from oil,
breaking free from oil,
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and you cannot get there
through incrementalism.
through incrementalism.
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Third, and you know this one,
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the world is hungry for inspiration.
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It craves stories of success
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in dealing with complex issues,
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especially in developing countries.
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So I believe Costa Rica
can be an inspiration to others,
can be an inspiration to others,
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as we did last year when we disclosed
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that for so many days
we were not using any fossil fuels
we were not using any fossil fuels
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in order to generate all our electricity.
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The news went viral around the world.
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Also, and this makes me extremely proud,
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a Costa Rican woman, Christiana Figueres,
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played a decisive role in the negotiations
of the Paris climate agreement.
of the Paris climate agreement.
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So we have to protect that legacy
and be an example.
and be an example.
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So what comes next?
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The people.
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How do we get people to own this?
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How do we get people
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to believe that it's possible
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to build a society without fossil fuels?
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A lot of work from
the ground up is needed.
the ground up is needed.
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That is why, in 2014,
we created Costa Rica Limpia.
we created Costa Rica Limpia.
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"Limpia" means "clean,"
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because we want to empower
and we want to inspire citizens.
and we want to inspire citizens.
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If citizens don't get engaged,
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clean transportation decisions
will be bogged down by endless,
will be bogged down by endless,
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and I mean endless, technical discussions,
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and by avalanches of lobbying
by various established interests.
by various established interests.
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Wanting to be a green country
powered by renewables
powered by renewables
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is already part of our story.
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We should not let anybody
take that away from us.
take that away from us.
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Last year, we brought people
from our seven provinces
from our seven provinces
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to talk about climate change
in terms that matter to them,
in terms that matter to them,
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and we also brought this year
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another group of Costa Ricans
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to talk about renewable energy.
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And you know what?
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These people disagree on almost everything
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except on renewable energy
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and clean transportation and clean air.
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It brings people together.
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And the key to real participation
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is to help people not to feel small.
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People feel powerless,
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and they are tired of not being heard.
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So what we do is concrete things,
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and we translate technical issues
into citizen language
into citizen language
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to show that citizens have a role to play
and can play it together.
and can play it together.
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For the first time, we're tracking
the promises that were made
the promises that were made
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on clean transportation,
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and politicos know
that they have to deliver it,
that they have to deliver it,
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but the tipping point will come
when we form coalitions --
when we form coalitions --
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citizens, companies,
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champions of public transportation --
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that will make electric mobility
the new normal,
the new normal,
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especially in a developing country.
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By the time the next election comes,
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I believe every candidate
will have to disclose where they stand
will have to disclose where they stand
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on the abolition of fossil fuels.
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Because this question
has to enter our mainstream politics.
has to enter our mainstream politics.
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And I'm telling you,
this is not a question of climate policy
this is not a question of climate policy
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or environmental agenda.
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It's about the country that we want
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and the cities that we have
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and the cities that we want
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and who makes that choice.
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Because at the end of the day,
what we have to show
what we have to show
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is that development with renewable energy
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is good for the people,
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for Costa Ricans that are alive today
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and especially for those
who haven't been born.
who haven't been born.
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This is our National Museum today.
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It's bright and peaceful,
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and when you stand up in front of it,
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it's really hard to believe
these were military barracks
these were military barracks
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at the end of the '40s.
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We started a new life
without an army in this place,
without an army in this place,
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and here is where our abolition
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of fossil fuels will be announced one day.
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And we will make history again.
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Thank you.
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(Applause)
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Monica Araya - Climate advocateIn 2015 Monica Araya's native Costa Rica produced almost all of its electricity from renewable sources. She advocates for the next step: a fossil-fuel-free world.
Why you should listen
Monica Araya is the founder and director of Costa Rica Limpia (Spanish for "clean"), a citizen group that promotes clean energy. Costa Rica Limpia tracks governmental pledges on key issues such as renewable energy and public transport investment, and it hosts citizen consultations to give visibility to people's preferences on these topics. Araya is also the founder of Nivela, an international thought leadership group that advances narratives on development and climate responsibility by combining senior and millennial perspectives from emerging economies.
After earning a master's in economic policy from Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Araya obtained a PhD in environmental management from Yale. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs named her 'Personality of the Future' in 2014.
In 2017 Araya was named resident expert at "Next Visionaries," a global initiative by TED and BMW i that seeks to reimagine the future of mobility.
Monica Araya | Speaker | TED.com