Bhutan, along with nine Least Developed Countries (LDCs), are collectively working towards achieving climate resilience by 2030. Through an initiative called the Least Developed Countries Initiatives for Climate Adaptation and Resilience or LIFE-AR, it aims to support locally-led climate adaptation and build a sustainable future for vulnerable communities. Although Bhutan has graduated from the LDC category, the country was part of the initiative when it started.
The initiative is structured in three phases. First is the establishment phase where a plan is developed and readied for investment in the community, which is followed by implementing the actions. In the final phase, it will be expanded to more communities and additional funding will be secured.
Bhutan has completed the first phase.
“We have now completed the establishment phase, though it is not yet finalised. So, for now, we have six pilot districts where we will deliver the LIFE-AR in our country. We have identified Trashi Yangtse and Monggar in the east, and also Gasa, Punakha, Chhukha, and Samtse,” said Rinchen Penjor, Focal of National LIFE-AR.
The LIFE-AR board is scheduled to review and potentially approve Bhutan’s proposal on Thursday.
After that, people of six pilot districts in the country will discuss and decide on what kind of climate-resilient activities they want in their communities.
The LIFE-AR will then implement the actions with a grant of six million pound sterling or more than Nu 641 M.
Through this initiative, the countries will also learn from each other and help in achieving climate resilience.
“Learning is one of the key components of the initiative because, for many years, LDCs have been implementing adaptation, but we’ve not learned from what is and is not working. So, in this initiative, learning is one of the important components where LDCs learn from each other on what is working and what is not working, but also helping those that need building more capacity and systems. So, bringing LDCs to learn together is important. We value working in different ways, working in business unusual ways,” said Tracy Kajumba, Interim Secretariat Director of LIFE-AR.
“We said, can we develop something new? A new initiative, and this is now the LIFE-AR where we can do climate action in the business unusual way. So that we can help the communities and our economies to achieve what we call a climate-resilient future. And therefore, we did develop a vision that should take us to the year 2050. So, by 2050, we attain climate resilience, and net zero target also,” said Evans Njewa, Chair of LDC Climate Change Group.
47 delegates from ten countries including Bhutan are attending a weeklong workshop in Thimphu to discuss about their experiences from the first phase.
Deki Lhazom
Edited by Tshering Zam
