Bhutan Vehicle Emission Reduction Road Map and Strategy, 2017–2025

Abstract

Bhutan takes pride in being the only carbon-neutral country in the world. However, accelerated economic activities in the last decade have led to a number of environmental issues. Increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other air pollutants have become serious concerns, posing risks to people’s health and the environment. If no action is taken, emission levels will likely triple by 2030, causing severe air pollution. A national policy and vision to maintain a pristine environment is in place and Bhutan is undertaking steps to significantly reduce its environmental footprint. These present exciting opportunities toward achieving a resource-efficient, resilient, equitable, and greener economy in line with the country’s overall goal of happiness for all. This policy brief is an output of activities on “Building Institutional Capacity to Reduce Emissions from Motor Vehicles in Bhutan” that the National Environment Commission (NEC) implemented from January 2017 to March 2018 under the regional technical assistance project “Action on Climate Change in South Asia” of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).