The impact of these policies is widespread and ongoing. Thus, it is important to note that many of the policies are not yet completed, as many work on 5 or 10-year bases, starting in 2019 and 2020, so data is not available to form a complete picture. That being said, some of their impact can already be analysed. Bhutan has been able to find its niche of achieving carbon neutrality by adapting its policy to Bhutan’s capacity for forest cover. As a result, each successful policy and programme Bhutan implements can aid in giving them more legitimacy in the field. Consequently, when looking at the impact of these policies, this principle must be kept in mind.
These policies all contribute to one central idea: that Bhutan remains a leading country in climate policy worldwide. As a result, Wangdi has led the National Environment Commission to many successes. These policies will be mentioned to give Bhutan and Wangdi legitimacy as a leader and influence on the international sphere, and this has concrete examples behind it. At COP28 in Dubai, the Bhutan Pavillion was established. It is an organisation headed by the National Environment Commission and Wangdi as the face of Bhutan at these conferences. It serves as a platform for ‘bringing together governments, development partners, philanthropists, CSOs, youth, women, climate champions, and experts all under one roof’.
This is one example of a leadership project that has enabled Wangdi to claim leader status. The Bhutan Pavillion is based on national policies that have allowed Bhutan to achieve and maintain carbon neutrality. Thus, it can be seen that each policy that strengthens the environmental progress of Bhutan, directly reinforces this international position. Still, these leadership projects don’t solely have an international impact, domestically it ensures his position as a climate leader. Many states and organisations, such as LDCs and COP conference members, recognise Wangdi as the leader of climate policy, and it is very likely that without his advocacy on an international level, there would be less support for Bhutanese climate policy.
The National Environment Strategy 2020
The National Environment Strategy 2020 has an implementation strategy of ten-year plans, the most recent will span from 2020-2030. At the time of writing this report, no updated evaluations exist. The intention of this policy is to set clear standards for the country to follow, adapting their 1998 Environmental Strategy to more modern initiatives. It reiterates the country’s commitment to five-year plans which the country has been implementing since 1961. As mentioned the fourth section, outlines specific policies relating to the four elemental sectors, which cover all of the environmental challenges outlined in this report.
This broad scope is expected to make significant progress in hydropower, agricultural and industrial development and the conservation of resources in Bhutan. Essentially, it synthesises previous policies and plans for more coherent and consistent implementation.
For example, the strategy includes the National Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (2016) which aims to integrate water resources around the country. The National Environmental Commission is the leading competent authority throughout the entire report, meaning Wangdi is the leading authority on this policy. However, it is also an internationally connected plan that is mainly supported by Japan. It builds upon the Bhutan Water Security Index (BWSI) and the Water Act to be able to adapt current frameworks. Its progress is not available in the literature but it is expected to increase water security levels from the 36% safely managed water levels in 2017.
The position Bhutan has worked towards placing itself on the international climate stage means that they are the champion of climate policy success. Wangdi is already the face of Bhutan’s international climate position, frequently attending COP conferences. His legitimacy, however, is secured by policies implemented by his agency. As a result, this policy was deeply impactful for Wangdi himself, as this gives him great influence on climate policy and implementation within Bhutan. Overall, the policy tackles climate challenges through a broad-based approach, focusing on the specific shortcomings Bhutan faces.
Second Nationally Determined Contribution
The Second Nationally Determined Contribution outlines Bhutan’s commitment to the United Nations 2030 Agenda, which is in implementation until 2030. However, part of the report comments on the progress of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2018-2023). It outlines how ‘climate neutrality, climate and disaster resilience’ was integrated successfully into the national and local level development planning. Additionally, it reports on their renewable energy master plan (2017-2032), which they state is gradually being implemented through the five and ten-year plans.
This policy is directly connected with the international community through the UNFCCC and is the main forum for climate transparency for Bhutan. By exemplifying their successes through this document, Bhutan once again solidifies its position as a climate champion. They build legitimacy through implementing solutions to national problems that are catered to local needs. From a different lens it also addresses global warming on a larger scale, especially in regards to implementing hydropower and increasing energy efficiency.
Wangdi himself played a large role in this policy as it outlines policies he spearheads such as the National Adaptation Plan, meaning he reaps the same benefits the policy does. Overall, this policy gives Bhutan more transparency and legitimacy on an international stage, through its comprehensiveness and the NDC programme itself.
National Adaptation Plan 2023
The National Adaptation Plan has had a comprehensive implementation and integration process, despite it falling under multiple five-year plans that have not yet concluded. It has both national and local level actions while attempting to maintain the economy as a whole. It does this through working in tandem with the National Adaptation Programme of Action and the aforementioned Nationally Determined Contribution. It heavily reflects the ethos of the GNH system which makes implementation easier within Bhutan. Additionally, $2.9 million has been allocated to it in collaboration with the Green Climate Fund and the UNDP, which was given in 2019.
Some progress can be seen, especially the formation of two new projects, the first of which is a new five-year plan named ‘Advancing Climate Resilience of the Water Sector in Bhutan (ACREWAS)’. It has $8.9 million in funding from the Global Environment Facility’s Least Developed Countries Fund (GEF-LDCF) and the UNDP, with an additional $25 million from the Bhutanese government.
The second project focuses on building urban resilience, especially fixing infrastructural elements Bhutan has struggled with. It is part of a larger $63 million project headed by the Least Developed Countries Fund and Special Climate Change Fund. However, it is important to note that while this policy has many more updates available, much of the progress is still unclear as the first five-year plan is not even halfway through.
Nevertheless, it has had great reception both nationally and, especially, internationally, as a very comprehensive plan on top of its carbon neutrality. It once again gives them legitimacy and exemplifies the support Bhutan has from international organisations. This is seen through the sheer amount of collaboration and funding that they have and are being given throughout these programmes. It also achieves the goal of tackling global warming as a whole by focusing on medium and long-term adaptation priorities. Additionally, it places emphasis on project-based implementation that is wide-scale and multifaceted. Overall, this policy provides a comprehensive review of Bhutan’s place in international climate policy and the role that they are set to play in the future.
These policies outline the important work that Bhutan is doing to tackle their environmental issues. However, there is an overshadowing factor which is the socio-economic situation within Bhutan. Despite their successes in the environmental sector, issues such as poverty, unemployment and violence against women remain rampant. Poverty in rural areas, which are disproportionately affected by natural disasters and the lack of infrastructure, sits at around 12%. These high levels of poverty are paired with high unemployment rates, especially among younger generations. While youth unemployment has decreased from 29.6% in 2022 to 29.2% in 2023, and is projected to continue falling, these levels remain very high. Additionally, literacy rates are very low despite recent growth and high enrollment rates, with literacy rates for adults being 72%.
These figures have a profound impact on the reality of environmental policies. Considering much of the implementation of these policies works on a community level, the lack of ability to educate and provide employment can prevent these policies from performing to their full potential. Flailing literacy rates and poverty rates have become a driving factor in the lack of youth commitment to education, forcing young people to work instead.
In addition to this Bhutan remains under-industrialised and thus a lower-middle level economy. This poses great economic challenges for policy implementation, especially without large financial support from the international community. However, each five-year plan, which is the base for policy implementation, promises to provide a certain amount of employment opportunities. For example, the current five-year plan (Twelfth Five Year Plan, 2018-2023) brought 61,811 new job opportunities. Five-year plans aim to tackle these issues, but they have not had the intended effect, with the levels of inequality remaining high. Nevertheless, levels of unemployment and poverty are projected to fall in the coming years which will allow these policies to become more effective. Overall, it raises the question of the government’s policy priorities. However, social welfare policy and climate policy are not mutually exclusive. While social factors impact the effectiveness of these climate policies, there is still positive progress being made on both fronts.
Overall, there are both positive and negative arguments to be made. The implementation of these policies has given Bhutan greater advocacy on the international stage, with each success reinforcing its place as a climate leader. Wangdi, as the face of Bhutanese climate policy, reaps the benefits of this and has solidified his tenure as both a climate and policy leader. However, the socioeconomic context of Bhutan occasionally overshadows the successes of these climate policies. With the lack of progress updates available, it is difficult to infer to what extent this will impact the effectiveness of these policies. Overall, the impact of these policies will become clearer in the coming years, but at the present moment, they show mostly positive progress being made in the climate sector and attempted progress in regards to socio-economic development.
IExRAIA Summer Research Program:
This article is an excerpt from a report on Sonam Phuntsho Wangdi produced as part of an RAIA research program on climate leaders. For a full picture of Ruto’s climate leadership read the full report. This project was fully financed by IE University’s IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs.
Authors: Sophia Rathleff & Maria de la Paz Gonzalez
Editor: David Salinger
Project Lead: Francia Morales
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