VISIT BHUTAN: A CARBON NEGATIVE HAVEN WORTH WITNESSING
Mountains are and have always been a fascination of travelers looking to explore magnificent heights in pursuit of spectacular views. The popularity of mountainous regions is quite high among tourists all over the world. Ask them and they will tell you all about their favorite high-altitude spots around the globe. Yet, you will find many scratching their heads when it comes to the Kingdom of Bhutan.
High up in the Eastern Himalayas, sandwiched between India and China, Bhutan is a bit of a mystery in the minds of many travelers.
But maybe, that mystery is not a coincidence but the direct effect of Bhutan’s choice to be secluded from the world for the longest time. The isolated nation only opened up to foreign visits in 1974 and allowed TVs in 1999. This makes traveling to Bhutan a unique experience as it has not been frequently traveled in the past. That is changing fast, however. Tourism is increasing in Bhutan, and as amazing as the landscape is, it has more to do with the people of Bhutan and their approach towards the environment.
Bhutan has stepped upon the world’s stage, showcasing what it means to be an environmentally progressive nation. One of the interesting Fact about Bhutan is that Bhutan, is the only country in the world that is carbon-negative. This makes Bhutan, an anomaly. Carbon dioxide is the leading greenhouse gas emission contributing most dramatically to worldwide climate change. Most countries produce far more carbon dioxide than they are able to absorb which means they are unfortunately contributing to the amount of unwanted carbon that makes its way into the atmosphere.
Bhutan, on the other hand, has become a carbon sink, absorbing over 6 million tons of carbon annually while only producing around 1.5 million tons. This is thanks to the massive tree cover that envelops Bhutan, where 72% of the country remains forested. The country also exports most of the renewable hydroelectric power they generate from their rivers. This offsets millions of tons of carbon dioxide. By 2020, Bhutan aims to export enough electricity to offset 17 million tons of carbon dioxide. If you are thinking carbon negative is a neat phase but is it really that rare of a feat? Let me give you a point of comparison-Luxembourg, even with a smaller population in comparison to Bhutan, emits 4 times as much.
Bhutan has emerged as the dark horse that has successfully adapted sustainability as part of its national identity and nation-building process. The country has long based its political decisions on a Gross National Happiness (GNH) index, abandoning economic growth as its compass. It’s the only country in the world to make such a switch and the results are there for all to see. Because Bhutan’s political agenda is based on its GNH index model, environmental protection quickly became a top priority.
It started with a promise made back in 2009 during COP15 in Copenhagen, to remain carbon neutral for all time. At COP 21 in 2016, Bhutan reiterated that promise. A ban was put on export logging. The constitution was amended to include that forested areas would not drop below 60%. Free hydroelectric power generated by Bhutan’s many rivers was utilized over environmentally devastating fossil fuels. Free electricity is provided to rural farmers.
For a country that has already gained the world’s respect and attention, Bhutan has a big reputation to uphold, and luckily even bigger plans to do so. By 2030 Bhutan plans to reach zero net greenhouse gas admission and to produce zero waste. This means putting a comprehensive plan of action into place, with items such as increasing its reliance on renewable energy sources like wind, biogas, and solar power.
Other creative environmental initiatives include a partnership with Nissan to provide the country with electrical cars with the intention of eventually changing all vehicles to electric. The government has also started providing rural farmers with free electricity in order to lessen their dependence on wood stoves for cooking. Plus, even more, trees have been planted. In June 2015, volunteers set a world record by planting 49,672 trees in just one hour. Every year, the government of Bhutan sets aside resources to conserve parks. This includes the prevention of hunting and poaching, and to help communities who live in parks to manage resources.
In his 2016 Ted Talk, “This country isn’t just carbon neutral — it’s carbon negative”, Tshering Tobgay, the Prime Minister of Bhutan, illuminated the country’s bold ideas. His talk ended with a message: “I invite you to help me, to carry this dream beyond our borders to all those who care about our planet’s future. After all, we’re here to dream together, to work together, to fight climate change together, to protect our planet together. Because the reality is we are in it together.”
Progressive, mindful, considerate co-habitation is built within the fabric of the polity of Bhutan, making it easy for one to fall in love with this place and left wanting to visit it. However, there are a few things to know. Unless you’re from India, Bangladesh, or the Maldives, you’ll need a Bhutan Visa to explore this cheery pocket of South Asia — there is no independent travel. In addition to the visa ($40), tourists must pay an additional $200 to $250 “Minimum Daily Package Fee” and book through an officially approved tour operator. The fee can confuse or put off potential visitors, so it’s worth clarifying what it is. It covers lodging in three-star accommodations (extra luxury hotel can be had for a premium), all meals, a licensed tour guide, camping and trekking equipment, domestic travel (excluding flights), and taxes and fees. For more information, you can contact us
A daily sustainable development fee of $65 is also included in the package. This goes towards funding education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation, along with the building of infrastructure to accommodate growing tourism. You can take Bhutan Spiritual and Wellness Tour to get the best feel of Bhutan being the carbon Negative Country.
There are many reasons for Bhutan’s carbon negative status. Its rural economy and its dependence on agriculture, its lush forest cover, government’s commitment towards sustainable development, and co-operation and participation of the people of Bhutan. However, these are all choices which people of Bhutan are making, over other options and are therefore sacrificing rapid industrial growth in favor of sustainable development goals. You can also make a noble choice. The next time you pack your bags to travel, choose Bhutan as your adventure. You would not just be contributing to the tourism economy of Bhutan; you will be opening yourself to an experience that you will cherish for a long time
