The
treaty, known as the Escazu Agreement, was signed in the Escazu
area west of Costa Rica's capital in 2018, when Carlos Alvarado
was president. He was succeeded in May by Rodrigo Chaves, who
opposed the agreement, arguing Costa Rica already has sufficient
regulations on environmental matters.
The Escazu Agreement, which came into force in 2021, provides a
sweeping framework for countries in the region to strengthen
environmental policy, notably imposing requirements regarding
the rights of environmental defenders.
Costa Rica's congress overwhelmingly rejected a motion to extend
the ratification period, effectively shutting the door on
joining the treaty, with 41 of the 57 deputies voting against
it.
"This is how we go from a country at the forefront on
environmental matters to one that can't even approve an
international agreement on the bare minimum," said lawmaker
Jonathan Acuna, who dissented.
The majority of lawmakers argued the treaty's mechanism gave too
much power to those who accused companies and others of
environmental harm.
(Reporting by Alvaro Murillo; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by
William Mallard)
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