What Will It Take for Costa Rica to Transform Its Cities?

Urban development must not only meet today’s needs — it must anticipate tomorrow’s challenges. Cities are hubs of innovation and progress, but they also face urgent issues: sustainability, infrastructure, equity, and quality of life.

In Costa Rica, nearly 80% of the population lives in urban areas — a fact that brings huge opportunities, but also great responsibility.

The challenges are clear:

Infrastructure lag — Public works as a share of total construction has dropped from an average of 20% over the past 30 years to a projected 9.5% in 2025 (BCCR).

Climate vulnerability — Buildings in flood-prone areas grew 443.9% between 1986 and 2017 (State of the Nation report).

Lack of regulation — Over half of municipalities lack urban master plans.

These are compounded by extreme heatwaves, migration, and climate disasters — requiring infrastructure that is not only functional but also resilient.

Global forums like CTBUH 2024 and Climate Week NYC highlight key action areas:

• Resilience: Retrofit and adapt existing buildings to withstand climate impacts while reducing the footprint of new construction.

• Carbon reduction: Standardized carbon accounting in construction to track and cut both embodied and operational emissions.

• Global collaboration & regulation: International frameworks show measurable benefits — 60,000 companies reporting to the CDP cut emissions by 10% and saved 7% in costs in just two years.

• Equity & inclusion: Affordable housing and inclusive planning are essential for accessible, livable cities.

• Mobility: Mixed-use developments create denser, more walkable cities with efficient transport.

• Regenerative design & biodiversity: Integrating green spaces combats urban heat islands and supports healthy habitats.

The opportunity is here: to position Costa Rica as a global leader in sustainable urban development — but it will require unprecedented coordination between public and private sectors.

As Ani Dasgupta, CEO of WRI, said at Climate Week 2024:

“Climate change will multiply our existing challenges exponentially. Cities cannot face this alone; they need a new governance model based on partnerships and transparency.”

The question remains — what’s holding us back?

*This article was originally published in La Nación