Raising Climate Ambition || Voices from Bhutan

A collaboration between NEC, RUB, BES, UNDP, Bhutan Foundation, WWF and UNCDF to bring climate issues to the forefront, to shape collective consciousness for actions that can translate into climate wins, not just for Bhutan but for the world. Owing to Bhutan’s small economy, dependence on farming and agriculture, and nature of its topography, it is one of the most climate change vulnerable countries. But Bhutan’s commitment is unwavering, even as it prepares to graduate from a Least Developed Country to a Middle-Income Country, and despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, its priorities are in place. With Gross National Happiness (GNH) as its guiding development philosophy, nature, climate change and conservation are in consonance with its development agenda. [read more] The Climate Promise made as part of the Paris Agreement is only strengthened with the country’s commitment to raise climate ambition with the formulation of 2nd Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and the first National Adaptation Plan (NAP). In keeping with Bhutan’s ambition to act decisively on climate change issue, NEC together with UNDP, RUB, Bhutan Ecological Society (BES), WWF and UNCDF launched a Climate Series “Raising Climate Ambitions: Voices from Bhutan”, a five-part event on 21st May. The main objective of the series was to carryout “Awareness program on Bhutan’s Climate Journey and to raise Ambition” and reach out to wider audiences within and outside the country gearing up to the United Nation Conferences of Parties (COP26) to be held in Glasgow from 31st Oct. – 12th Nov. 2021. Four events under the series have been successfully completed and we are onto the last installment, series V, themed “Climate Action Week” scheduled on the last week of 25th October. The 5-day weeklong event will convene a mix of academic seminars, high level panel discussions, student engagement (through exhibitions and competitions), and showcase climate solutions and engage prominent private players within the climate change arena. Further, the organizers will also announce “Youth for Climate Action” & “Dear World Leader” video challenge (details in Annex1 and Annex 2) winners, introduced during the previous events to enhance  youth engagement and awareness.[/read]

Raising Climate Ambition || Voices from Bhutan

25th Oct. 2021


Climate Tour

An educational tour for school students to following institutions/offices/organizations, located within their respective districts, is organized to raise climate awareness:

1: National Center for Hydrology & Meteorology, Thimphu, Yangchenphug HSS

2: Iconic Building, Bank of Bhutan, Thimphu, Mothithang HSS

3: Solar & Wind Farm, Rubesa, Wangdue, Bajo HSS

4: Law Library, Pangbesa, Paro, Drugyel HSS

5: DendroScience, UWICER, Bumthang, Jakar HSS

6: Glacier Lab, Kanglung, Tashigang, Jampeling HSS


Climate Smart Exhibition

The partners will organize a Climate Smart Exhibition on 26th Oct. at RUB Hall, Motithang, at 10AM – 5PM. The main objective is to showcase innovative climate sensitive technologies for that will contribute towards building a climate resilient future.

26th Oct. 2021
28th Oct. 2021


Witness to Warming

The event will bring in personnel from Forest, tourism, environment official and climate advocates who will share their experiences, stories, and perspectives from their trips to various locations across the country. The following stories will be covered during the event:
·       Jomolari base trekking
·       Lunana Expedition
·       Bhutan Melting Glaciers

College Engagement

Colleges under RUB were encouraged to submit proposals to organize events during the Climate Action Week within or outside the college campus on the following themes:
·       Climate mitigation
·       Climate adaptation
·       Nature based solutions

The proposals from four colleges namely RTC, JNEC, Sherubtse and CST were selected to host/organize the event during the Climate Action Week.


Climate Action Statement

On the closing day of the climate week themed “Climate Action”, the partners will bring in leading institutions will express their commitments to climate action.  Further, the winners of video challenge themed “Youth for Climate Action” and “Dear World Leader” will also be announced and awarded prizes and certificate.

29th Oct., 2021

Annex I: Youth for Climate Action: Showcasing Youth in Action on Climate Change

The video challenge was a call for green, sustainable, and innovative ideas, actions, and solutions. It seeks to celebrate the voices, actions and contributions of young people and empower them to take the lead in the fight against the global climate crisis.

The video challenge is an opportunity to showcase climate action by colleges and universities (both on and off campus) under the following themes:

  • Climate mitigation
  • Climate adaptation
  • Nature based solutions

Annexure 2: “Dear World Leader” video challenge:

Schools were invited for the “Dear World Leader” video challenge whereby students were encouraged to speak from their heart about what they are experiencing and what actions they want world leaders to take (pertaining climate change).

The selected videos will be streamed during Climate Action Week and will also be featured during the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) to be held in Glasgow from 31st Oct. – 12th Nov. 2021.

Background:

2021 is the “Super Year for Nature” and countries, including Bhutan, are stepping up their climate ambitions, assurance, and actions. Bhutan submitted 2nd Nationally Determined Contributions to UNFCCC. The document reiterates its national commitment to remain carbon neutral and recognizes that mitigation measures need to be implemented through development and implementation of low carbon emission actions. And to achieve it, Bhutan developed and launched Low Emissions Development Strategy (LEDS) to chart a path for low emission action through prioritized sectors. As such, LEDS have been prepared for the Food security, Human Settlement, Transport, and Industries sector. Further, other significant National Actions and reports related to climate change, environment and conservation have also been shared to raise awareness on impacts of climate change, as well as action taken and needed, both within the private and public domain. These are all in keeping with the commitments to the Paris Agreement and commitments ahead of COP26 in November, this year.

Led by NEC and supported by UNDP, Royal University of Bhutan, Bhutan Ecological Society, Bhutan Foundation, WWF Bhutan, and United Nations Capital Development Fund, the five-part series spans from May-October. All events are planned coinciding with important international dates to amplify issues Bhutan is facing across the globe. The climate series, together with the first installment was launched on 21 May coinciding with International Biodiversity Day followed by Series II on 5 June, coinciding with World Environment Day and the 3rd series took place during the Asia Pacific climate week on 9th July 2021.

Previous Climate Series:

Series I : Witness to Warming : Local needs, stories and solutions (21 May)

Series II – Keeping the Promise: Low Carbon and Resilient Development (5 June)

Series III – Taking Stock: Climate Fairness, Capacities and Finance (6 – 7 July)

Series IV – Youth matters: Voices and Action in Climate Change (12 August)

Contact information

Ms. Kinley Wangmo, Programme Communications and Advocacy Analyst, UNDP Bhutan, Mobile: +975 1734 2610, Email: kinley.wangmo@undp.org

Ms. Sonam Wangmo, Research Associate, BES, Mobile +975 7720 5398, Email: sonamwangmo@bes.org.bt