Climate Change Policy of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2020.

This Climate Change Policy of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2020 is a national policy document. The Climate Change Policy restates the commitment made by the Royal Government of Bhutan at the COP15 to remain carbon neutral, which was reiterated on its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in the Paris Agreement. The goals of the Policy include: a. To provide strategic guidance to ensure that Bhutan remains carbon neutral and protects the wellbeing of the people of Bhutan by adapting to climate change in an efficient and effective manner; b. To ensure meaningful participation of all relevant stakeholders in climate change action in a coordinated and coherent manner with clear roles and responsibilities; and c. To ensure that the challenges and opportunities of climate change are addressed at all appropriate levels, through adequate means of implementation (finance, technology, capacity building and awareness) and integration into relevant plans and policies.
The Policy has set up 4 policy objectives: carbon neutrality, building resilience to climate change, means for implementation and effective and coordinated actions.
To achieve the carbon neutrality, the Government shall take appropriate measures to maintain the carbon neutral status of Bhutan towards ensuring ecologically balanced sustainable development while promoting justifiable economic and social development’ by pursuing a low GHG emissions development pathway. The Government shall manage GHG emissions from agricultural sector in a manner that does not threaten food production while contributing to food and nutritional security. Carbon neutral status of Bhutan shall be monitored through annual monitoring of GHG emissions by sectors, and periodic assessment of carbon sink in forests and soils.
In terms of building resilience to climate change, the Government shall take measures to protect the health, lives, livelihoods and happiness of the people from the adverse impacts of climate change by building adaptive capacity and resilience to reduce vulnerability and by integrating adaptation actions into the development planning process at all levels. A continuous process to assess the vulnerability and adaptation needs across all sectors and levels shall be ensured, recognizing the special needs of vulnerable groups.
The Government shall strive to ensure adequate means of implementation (through finance, technology, capacity building, research and awareness, integration) to support both mitigation and adaptation actions. The Policy proposes: Support and promote private sector investment in climate change action in line with applicable national laws and support from international mechanisms available for private sector action on climate change including Public Private Partnership (PPP Policy) and climate change funds; Promote innovation and development of traditional, indigenous and endogenous climate technologies; etc.