Integration of Climate Adaptation into Development and Conservation Planning in Bhutan: Issues and Recommendations

Bhutan is one of 13 countries covered by the Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia. In June 2010, a climate adaptation scoping study was undertaken, with input from stakeholders in government, non-government organizations (NGOs), and academia. The study’s key findings were:

1. Awareness of climate change was quite strong. However, there was no overall framework for addressing adaptation at policy or planning levels.
2. Both short- and long-term climate risks need to be better integrated into planning and policy making processes, in relation to 1) sector-specific responses to both climate variability and extreme events, such as floods; and 2) planning and implementation approaches that reflect, and can cope with, uncertainty.
3. Bhutan’s adaptation capacity was also a concern. Several training activities had taken place, but a systematic appraisal of training needs and the development of a strategy for both human resources and institutional change were required.

Citation

Lhendup, P. 2012, Integration of Climate Adaptation into Development and Conservation Planning in Bhutan: Issues and Recommendations, Adaptation Knowledge Platform, Partner Report Series No. 1., Stockholm Environment Institute, Bangkok. Available online at wwwsei.org, www.asiapacificadapt.net.