Climate scientists and experts across the globe are carrying out a series of research almost every day on global climate change, its impacts and measures to adapt to climate change. But the knowledge from such discourse doesn’t go beyond the experts themselves most of the times. So in order to highlight the issue and create awareness among ordinary people both within and outside the country, a climate awareness series is launched in Thimphu today.
The dialogues exchanged in the climate series is expected to ensure that Bhutan’s voice is reached to the international community so that they raise their climate action ambitions.
“With climate change warming the Eastern Himalayas, our formidable forests may experience a devastating loss, which would not only be damaging to us but also to the global communities, given that our forests sequester at least eight million tonnes of carbon dioxide. The theme of the International Biodiversity Day of 2021 is “We’re part of the solution” and I think this is apt as we must be the agents of change both for biodiversity conservation and for action on climate change,” said Foreign Minister Dr Tandi Dorji, the Chairman of the National Environment Commission (NEC).
“Today, almost 80 per cent of the world’s people believe that it is important to protect the planet. But only about half say they are likely to take concrete action to save it. There is clearly a gap between people’s values and their behaviour. To help bridge the gap, and to help empower people, the 2021 UNDP Human Development Report looked at the ways incentives and regulation can prevent or promote people taking action based on their values. We need a wholesale shift in mindsets, translated into reality by the policy,” said Azusa Kubota, the UNDP Resident Representative in the country.
“Bhutan has always been a forerunner in environment conservation. Yet we too are facing the brunt of climate change with our glaciers melting, increasing floods, severe windstorms and drying up of water sources among other impacts. The first event of the climate series will highlight these challenges by presenting local experiences about warming and what it means for our local communities. It will focus on the state of Bhutan’s climate glaciers and readiness systems, impacts of climate change on water and agriculture and how locally-led adaptation and nature-based solutions are at the heart of climate change action,” added Sonam P Wangdi, the Secretary of the NEC.
The climate series will be organised in RUB institutes and colleges to highlight global climate change, raise awareness and bring urgency to address the climate issues.
Alongside the launch of the climate series, a Roadmap and Strategy for Strengthening Climate Change Research in Bhutan, a report on Gender and Climate Change and Biodiversity User List was also launched.
Phub Gyem
