Climate change and global warming have become misfortunes that many scientists find worrisome. Over the years, scientists have tirelessly tried to ‘fight’ against global warming due to the rapid attention needed to curb climate change. It is evidently clear that almost every country is experiencing climate change. However, there is a small landlocked country, high up in South Asia’s Eastern Himalayas, that’s carbon negative. Bhutan, which is about 14,824 square miles and with about 800,000 human population is the first carbon negative country in the world, taking in more greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than it emits. Even though there are some other countries that are carbon-neutral in the world, Bhutan is the first carbon negative one.
Bhutan is covered with a lot of dense forest and about 72% of the country is woodlands that act as a natural carbon sink, absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide. This is partly what accounts for the country being carbon negative, coupled with the fact that it is relatively underdeveloped. Most of the citizens in Bhutan work in agriculture or forestry, so the country emits less than 2.5 million tons of CO2 each year. Meanwhile, Luxembourg is about the same size of Bhutan and with a smaller population, but it emits four times as much!
Despite the fact that Bhutan is sandwiched between India and China, two massively industrialized economies, Bhutan doesn’t strive to match its neighbour’s economic weight. Instead, it values its culture, people, and the environment above all.
Matt Finch, who is an analyst at the UK-based Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit, told CNN: “Bhutan (could have said) ‘we want to be more connected to our neighbours, we want more industrialization, we want more economic development … but they didn’t. Leadership is all about deciding what to do and doing it, and the leadership of Bhutan has decided they’re going to remain carbon negative … and they’re sticking to their guns.”
For the past 46 years, the Bhutanese government measures success by the degree of happiness instead of economic development. It uses a self-developed system called the Gross National Happiness (GNP) index to measure happiness and strives to make itself the happiest place globally. The GNP places emphasis on environmental protection, cultural preservation, sustainable development and good governance.
Environmental protection has been enshrined in the constitution since 2009, stating that at least 60% of Bhutan’s total land must remain under forest cover for all time.
Even prior to this, in 1999, the country banned logging exports. Plus, all forests are protected against pollution, mining, hunting and poaching. All protected reserves are linked with biological corridors so animals can move from one zone to the other freely and without human interaction.
“Bhutan is the only country in the world that by its constitution protects its forests. Remaining carbon negative is of utmost importance to the Bhutanese as they have a very high environmental awareness and appreciate harmony with the natural environment” (Juergen Nagler, of the UN Development Program in Bhutan).
Also, Nagler says that the government has plans to make the country’s agriculture 100% organic this decade and waste-free by 2030.
Again, Nagler said, “Climate change is human-made – we caused the problems; we can also create the solutions. And the solutions are there if we can muster the willingness. In Bhutan, the willingness comes from its wisdom and enlightened leadership.”
Most countries across the world set visions for prosperity and economic development. Meanwhile, Bhutan aims to reduce its carbon emissions to zero while increasing its carbon consumption to ten million tons by the end of the decade.
All countries in the world must learn from Bhutan.
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