Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen graced an event to commemorate World Environment Day, which is observed globally on June 5 every year.
Her Majesty launched four significant National Actions for the environment: Bhutan’s Second Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs); Third National Communication (TNC) of Bhutan to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) for Food Security, Human Settlement, Surface Transport and Industries, and the upgraded national Clearing House Mechanism (CHM) under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Bhutan presented its first NDCs to the UNFCCC in 2015, with the ambitious pledge to remain a carbon-neutral country. In presenting the second NDCs, Bhutan reiterates our National commitment to remain carbon neutral, and calls for support from the international community in implementing Bhutan’s climate efforts.
Bhutan’s Third National Communications to the UNFCCC presents an inventory of Greenhouse Gases emissions and the actions to mitigate them, the adaptation strategies undertaken to face the impacts of climate change, and also updated country circumstances since the submission of the Second National Communication in 2012.
The Low Emission Development Strategies are 30-year strategies spread across short, medium and long-term time horizons with prioritised climate actions for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Along with the GHG reduction targets, the LEDS also present other co-benefits and sustainable development benefits such as diversification of the economy, job creation, increased efficiency, improved health, etc, in pursuit of the GHG reduction efforts.
The Clearing House Mechanism, which provides information services related to biodiversity at a national level, has been upgraded on the Bioland tool. With this, the portal is better able to promote and facilitate scientific and technical cooperation for awareness, effective decision making and implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans.
This year, the theme for the global World Environment Day is “Ecosystem Restoration.” Ecosystem restoration can take many forms: Growing trees, greening cities, rewilding gardens, changing diets or cleaning up rivers among others. This is the generation that can make peace with nature.
In keeping with the COVID-19 protocol, the small number of attendees at the event included the Chair of the National Environment Commission (NEC), officials from relevant sectors and the NEC Secretariat.
Thanking Her Majesty, who, as the Royal Patron for the environment, has granted valuable support to all of our National conservation and environment efforts, the representatives of agencies working in these areas offered birthday wishes to Her Majesty.
World Environment Day is observed all over the country by offices, schools, institutions, and the private sector.
