What Should the World Learn from Bhutan on Earth Day 2022?

 Bhutan is the world's only carbon-negative country on this planet. It is the first country in the world to have a net-zero carbon footprint. 

Bhutan's government has a great history of making policy decisions based on a GNH Index (Gross National Happiness) rather than economic performance.

Effects of Carbon Dioxide & GH Gasses

Human activities, such as commercial agriculture, forestry, and the use of fossil fuels, are the primary source of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. This is one of the primary causes of climate change, as high carbon dioxide levels trap heat in the atmosphere.

What does it mean to be carbon negative?

Most countries emit significantly more co2 than the oceans and plants on the planet can absorb. These nations are making a significant contribution to the negative impacts of global climate change.

However, Bhutan stands distinct from the rest of the world. More than two-thirds of the land is covered with forest.

Bhutan has become a carbon sink, absorbing more carbon dioxide than it generates, as a result of its extensive tree cover.

Carbon dioxide may be absorbed by Bhutan's woods at a rate of millions of metric tons annually.

Bhutan also exports the majority of its river-generated renewable hydroelectric power. This drastically reduces the country's annual carbon emissions.

How did Bhutan become a carbon-negative country?

Bhutan's political agenda is built on the GNH index model, therefore environmental conservation became a high priority fast.

As promised in COP15 and COP21, Bhutan has reaffirmed its commitment for the rest of its existence.

Bhutan achieved carbon neutrality in a variety of methods, including:

● Log exports were prohibited.

● The constitution was revised to ensure forest coverage of at least 60%.

● Rather than using fossil fuels, Bhutan uses hydroelectric power supplied by its many rivers.

● Farmers in remote areas can get free electricity.

As a result of Bhutan's consistent commitment to decreasing its environmental footprint and promoting environmentally-friendly activities, both in and beyond the country.

There has always been an increase in environmental awareness. It teaches the rest of the world what is doable and how; any country can start to reduce its carbon footprint.