Sustainable Development: Abu Dhabi Masdar vs. Costa Rica
This paper examines and compares two national sustainable development plans: Abu Dhabi's Masdar initiative and Costa Rica's long-standing sustainability strategy. It analyzes each plan across four dimensions — financing, employment, resource use, and land management — before drawing comparisons and contrasts. Abu Dhabi's oil-funded Masdar plan prioritizes infrastructure and education to build a post-fossil-fuel economy, while Costa Rica leverages ecological wealth through ecotourism, sustainable agriculture, and debt restructuring. The paper concludes that despite sharing a common goal of economic uplift, the two plans diverge fundamentally in philosophy: Abu Dhabi develops first and retrofits sustainability, while Costa Rica treats sustainability itself as the engine of development.
- Introduction: Overview of two nations' sustainability plans
- Abu Dhabi's Masdar Initiative: Oil-funded plan for energy, jobs, education
- Costa Rica's Sustainability Strategy: Ecotourism, debt restructuring, sustainable agriculture
- Comparing the Two Plans: Shared goals and philosophical differences examined
- Conclusion: Development-first vs. sustainability-first philosophies
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What makes this paper effective
- It uses a clear parallel structure to analyze both countries across the same dimensions — financing, employment, and resource use — making comparison straightforward and methodical.
- It identifies a meaningful philosophical divergence between the two plans (development-first vs. sustainability-first), elevating the analysis beyond surface-level description.
- It acknowledges weaknesses in both plans (e.g., water usage gaps, land clearing in Costa Rica), demonstrating critical thinking rather than uncritical summary.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates comparative analysis by first profiling each subject individually and then synthesizing the comparison in a dedicated section. This structure — describe, describe, then compare — is a reliable framework for short comparative essays, as it builds the reader's understanding before drawing contrasts.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a brief framing introduction, then devotes roughly equal space to Abu Dhabi's Masdar plan and Costa Rica's strategy, each organized around finance, employment, and resources. A final comparative section identifies shared goals, common gaps, and fundamental philosophical differences. The conclusion is embedded within the comparison section rather than standing alone, which keeps the paper concise while still delivering a clear evaluative judgment.
Introduction
Each of the emirates that comprise the United Arab Emirates is subject to rule by its own sheikh. The largest emirate, Abu Dhabi, has set forth a sustainable development plan known as Masdar, with a stated goal of leading the world in sustainable development and a target completion date of 2030. Costa Rica, a Central American nation with a very different resource base, offers an instructive point of comparison. Together, these two plans illustrate how national context shapes sustainable development strategy.
Abu Dhabi's Masdar Initiative
Masdar has no plan for fiscal shortfalls. Funded with oil revenue, the emirate does not anticipate financial difficulty for the next several decades and will not require assistance from international agencies. One of the major employment issues that Masdar hopes to address is youth unemployment. Abu Dhabi's youth suffer high unemployment because they are unwilling to take low-skill jobs, yet there are not enough high-skill positions available to absorb them. Part of the Masdar plan involves creating new universities — including the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology — to better educate Abu Dhabi's youth so they can engage more fully in their own careers and in job creation.
Masdar addresses resource needs in two principal ways. The program is designed to transition Abu Dhabi from fossil fuel dependence to alternative forms of power, particularly the region's abundant solar and wind resources. Water is already a critical issue for the emirate; current supplies come from underground reservoirs, and no plans exist to change this. It is worth noting, however, that unlike neighboring Dubai, Abu Dhabi is not pursuing golf courses, indoor ski hills, and other water-intensive tourism ventures that would compound the problem.
Works Cited
Masdar.ae website. (2009). Retrieved November 22, 2009 from http://www.masdar.ae/en/home/index.aspx
No author. (2004). Costa Rica case study: Analysis of national strategies for sustainable development. International Institute for Sustainable Development. Retrieved November 22, 2009 from
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