Bhutan's Climate and Environment

05/03/2021

Retreating Himalayan glaciers can become hazardous but such dangers are not being monitored, experts say.

16/02/2021

Pema Gyamtsho, the first Director General from South Asia of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, talks of the achievements and challenges before the institution

08/02/2021

As the world warms and glaciers retreat faster, the need is to brace for more disasters and minimise impacts by reviewing ill-planned dams and roads

08/02/2021

30/01/2021

Update from UNFCCC: This year’s top insights in climate science are;

1. Improved understanding of Earth’s sensitivity to carbon dioxide strengthens support for ambitious emission cuts to meet the Paris Agreement.

2. Emissions from thawing permafrost likely to be worse than expected.

3. Tropical forests may have reached peak uptake of carbon.

4. Climate change will severely exacerbate the water crisis.

5. Climate change can profoundly affect our mental health.

6. Governments are not seizing the opportunity for a green recovery from COVID-19.

7. COVID-19 and climate change demonstrates the need for a new social contract.

8. Economic stimulus focused primarily on growth would jeopardize the Paris Agreement.

9. Electrification in cities pivotal for just sustainability transitions.

10. Going to court to defend human rights can be an essential climate action.

06/01/2021

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18/12/2020

Punakha in two different scenario: One in summer and other in winter

Winter brings a fresh weather but summer might betray if glacial lake outburst flood come at an uncertain hour.

04/12/2020

03/12/2020

Bhutan will continue to enjoy the privileges and immunities of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) even after the graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category in 2023. Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering informed the House about this in response to the Member of Parliament (MP) from Bartsham_Sho...

03/12/2020

WMO report on the State of the Global Climate uses 7 key indicators to describe the changing climate. All of these show the extent and speed of climate change and the need for urgent climate action.
Greenhouse Gases
Ocean Acidification
Temperature
Extreme Events
Ocean Heat
Sea Level
Glacial Mass
Sea Ice

Our new story map explains.
Details at https://bit.ly/2JGk4bm

23/11/2020

News:

To prepare Bhutan for current and future challenges, RUB is committed to play a central role in fundamental research on climate science, impacts, adaptation and mitigation through the Bhutan Himalayan Climate Studies (BHCD) project, dedicated to building long-term capacity of climate-related expertise.

RUB aims to establish as an academic hub for climate change studies, especially in the context of the Hindu Kashmir Himalaya region, by bridging the gap between climate adaptation research, policy and operations through the BHCS project that will also coincide with Bhutan graduating from its LDC status in 2023.

18/11/2020

17/11/2020

Bhutan's Glaciers are Receding Fast

Sonam Penjor

Ganjula and Thana glaciers, the two benchmarks and the most well-known of the country's glacial abodes are retreating every year and the Thorthomi glacial lake is no exception to this alarming development.

Today, the country has a total of 700 glaciers, according to the Bhutan Glacial Inventory, 2018 covering an area of 629.55-km square which accounts for 1.64 percent of the total land cover.

Since 2004, the glaciers are losing their mass continuously with a total mass loss of -28.5 meter water equivalent per meter square.

According to the latest data, the Ganjula glacier has a total surface area of 0.2013-km square, and the total terminus retreat from 2004 to 2020 is 182 meters on an average retreat rate of 11.4 meters per year. Shrinkage of 0.081 km square was lost from 2004 till 2020 which accounted for 27.6 percent of the initial surface area.

If the climate gets much worse than the present scenario, within 50 years from now, "We may not be able to see these Ganjula glaciers if this kind of trend continues," said Karma, Specialist on Glaciologist with the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NHCM).

Similarly, for Thana glacier, the cumulative glacial loss to -5.98 meter water equivalent per meter square since 2017-2020. Since 1980, total terminus retreat was 726 meters on an average retreat rate of 18.2 meters per year leading to area shrinkage to 1.49 km square which accounts for 28.64 percent of initial surface area.

Karma said that these two glaciers are the benchmarks to study glaciers in the country.
In terms of Thorthomi glacial lake, the team from the NHCM visited the site to study this lake and to reassess the hazard scenario of the GLOF of 2019.

Karma added that the cause of the melting of ice in Thorthomi Lake was the abnormal rise in the temperature. However, he said after a year when they assessed the lake they didn't observe any major new slight comparing to the previous year. "Still it doesn't mean that Thorthomi Lake has stabilized. The risk level remains the same."

The department recommended continuing with the annual monitoring if the country's situation improves from the pandemic. The department also recommended ensuring the stability of the moraine wall between Raphtreng and Thorthomi in the ice core which would be a major activity in Lunana for the next few years.

The survey of 2020 found out that the barrier between Raphtreng and Thorthomi was narrowest at the crest with a width of 33.3 meters and sliding on either side were still continuing.

Since the start of activities in Lunana, it was observed that there is a rapid melting of ice in the upstream areas too.

It was observed, by dipping bamboo sticks of 6-meter length each into the Thorthomi lake over the past one year, that all the sticks had fallen which indicated that more than 6 meters of ice had melted or receeded.

Meanwhile, NHCM Director Karma Dupchu said despite the financial constraint and travel restrictions the need for scientific data on the cryosphere is important.

"For 2020, the work in the cryosphere was late because of the COVID-19 as traveling to higher altitude is curtailed as the window is very limited to September and October," the Director said.

17/11/2020

Flood mitigation structures construction at Maochhu begins
Gelephu Thromde has started planning new mitigation structures along the Maochhu.
The dzongkhag has spent millions building levee and other protection structures.
https://kuenselonline.com/flood-mitigation-structures-construction-at-maochhu-begins/

14/11/2020

Glaciers retreating at an alarming rate
The 700 glaciers in Bhutan are losing its mass or retreating at an alarming rate that experts warn the glaciers could disappear in the next 50 years if the trend continues.
https://kuenselonline.com/glaciers-retreating-at-an-alarming-rate/

05/11/2020

Environmental destruction and climate change are driving pandemics, with the Hindu Kush Himalayas a potential hotspot for new emerging diseases

24/10/2020

THIMPHU: High up in the mountains of Bhutan’s north, ancient glaciers punctuate a stunning, ethereal landscape. This landscape is a special one, ...