Costa Rica
Workshop outcomes
In late August 2022, UNICEF Costa Rica organized two workshops with 10 young people between the ages of 13 and 18 to discuss their experiences, perceptions and opinions about the "places and spaces" in which they live. The participants came from different communities in the country, both rural and urban.
The workshops were virtual. The group explored the content of Report Card 17 and discussed various issues covered by the publication. The group used photographs to allow them to convey their perspectives on what was discussed during the workshop. Therefore, during the second workshop, the content of the photographs and what they represent for their present and future were discussed. Here you can see the photos and the captions that they wrote together and that was the product of the dialogue they held.
Children & their Environments: Key Statistics
Where Costa Rica has a foundation to build on
Low levels of electronic waste
Costa Rica has relatively low levels of electronic waste (around 10 kg per person per year) - the 4th lowest out of 43 countries.
Emits relatively low levels of CO2
Costa Rica generates relatively low levels of CO2 (based on consumption) of around 2.6 metric tonnes per person per year, the 2nd lowest out of 43 countries.
Low rates of consumption
If all people in the world consumed at the same rate as the average person in Costa Rica, we would need 1.6 earths to sustain this consumption. This compares with an average of 3.3 earths across all 43 countries.
Where Costa Rica needs to step up policy efforts
High levels of lead in children’s blood
13 per cent of children in Costa Rica have elevated levels of lead in their blood – the 2nd highest percentage in the 43 countries in the report.
High impacts of pollution on children’s health
Costa Rica is among the 6 countries (out of the 43 countries in the report) with higher levels of health impacts on children due to air and water quality.
