Bhutan is globally recognised for being carbon negative, but its air quality is deteriorating. Studies show that pollution levels are far above what is considered safe. To address this, the Department of Environment and Climate Change, under the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, will develop the country’s first-ever National Clean Air Action Plan. As a first step, an inception workshop with relevant stakeholders was held in the capital today.
Recent studies show that Bhutan’s air pollution levels are worrying. The average amount of fine particles in the air, known as PM2.5, ranges between 30 and 38 micrograms per cubic meter, more than six times higher than the World Health Organisation’s safe limit.
Because they are invisible, we breathe the fine particles deep into our lungs without even noticing.
According to the WHO, there is no safe level of air pollution, as any exposure can pose health risks. In fact, in 2021, the WHO, through its 2021 Air Quality Guideline, lowered the annual average from 10 micrograms per cubic meter to five.
To show how serious it is, breathing Bhutan’s current air with PM2.5 levels of around 30 to 38 microgrammes per cubic meter is roughly like smoking one to two cigarettes a day, even if one doesn’t smoke at all.
According to officials, the main sources of this pollution are industries, agriculture, and vehicles, among others.
Long-term exposure to high PM2.5 levels increases the risk of respiratory infections, worsens asthma and leads to chronic diseases.
“If we do not address the issue of air pollution, it might lead to respiratory problems among the people, leading to other diseases. We are trying to come up with solutions and strategies for this,” said Dorji Wangdi, Chief, Environment Assessment and Compliance Division, Department of Environment and Climate Change, MoENR.
To address this issue, ICIMOD, a regional intergovernmental learning and knowledge sharing centre, in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Climate Change, is preparing the National Clean Air Action Plan.
“We have around five strategies in the action plan. These are finding out the source of the pollution, and revisiting existing policies and performing policy gap analysis, among other strategies,” said Dorji Wangdi, Chief, Environment Assessment and Compliance Division, Department of Environment and Climate Change, MoENR.
The action plan is expected to address both domestic and transboundary pollution to safeguard public health and protect the environment.
Deki Lhazom
Edited by Sonam Pem
