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SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS
Following is a synopsis of significant achievements under the Bhutan
Climate Summit process:
1.
Country Roadmaps
As decided during the Inception workshop held in Kathmandu, the
Summit Partner Countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal)
prepared National roadmaps on the four thematic areas (Food Security,
Energy Security, Water Security and Biodiversity persistence). In total 16
national roadmaps (4 by each country on the 4 thematic areas) were
prepared and endorsed. The country thematic roadmaps included a
chapter on ‘Regional Issues and Recommendations’. The country
roadmaps are the key basis for charting out regional areas of cooperation
under each thematic area.
The Summit Secretariat also prepared an amalgamated thematic
roadmap from the country roadmaps. These draft regional papers served
as the basis for discussions and decisions for the Expert Group Meetings
on the four thematic areas.
2.
Thematic Expert Group Meetings:
As decided by the partner countries, Expert Group Meetings on the four
thematic areas was organized and hosted by the partner countries as
follows:
a. Bangladesh hosted the water meeting on the 2nd and 3rd of
July in Dhaka;
b. Bhutan hosted the Biodiversity meeting on the 12th and 13th of
July in Thimphu, Bhutan;
c. India hosted the Food meeting on the 25th and 26th of July in
Delhi; and
d. Nepal hosted the Energy meeting on the 28th and 29th of July in
Kathmandu.
The main objectives of the meeting were to highlight the common agreed
regional issues in terms of water, biodiversity, food and energy issues in
the region and also to formulate a regional framework of action for
respective themes. The aim of the meetings was also to highlight the
points to be included for the Summit Declaration and also to devise the
strategies for implementation mechanism at the later stage.
The expert group meetings charted out ‘areas for regional cooperation’
under each thematic area. These areas of cooperation were
recommendations put forward to the ‘policy meeting’ for consideration
and decision.
3.
Policy Level Meeting:
The ‘High Level Policy Meeting’ earlier scheduled for September 2011 was
postponed to October 2011.
The policy meeting convened in Thimphu in October 2011. This meeting
provided for the platform for negotiations between the four countries in
order to finalize the regional roadmap. The meeting finalized the
‘Framework of Cooperation’ and also the ‘Implementation Mechanism’
4.
Partner Coordination Meetings:
Two rounds of partner coordination meeting
(October and November 2011). The objective
meetings were to communicate to the
partners/donors on the Summit outcomes
support.
were convened in Thimphu
of the partner coordination
Multilateral and Bilateral
and to chart out possible
Consequently, under the coordination of the UNDP office, Bhutan, the
donors/partners has communicated a ‘Joint Statement of Support’ to the
summit process.
5.
Side Events:
The Climate Secretariat in collaboration with Ugyen Wangchuck Institute
for Conservation and Environment(UWICE) and the Bhutan Foundation
are co-hosted the first 'Bhutan Ride for Climate' as an event leading up
to the Climate Change Summit in November. The event took place from
2nd -15th July 2011. This program featured youth from Bhutan and the
US on a bicycling trip from Bumthang to Thimphu, learning about
various perspectives on Climate Change on the way. They interacted with
farmers, hydropower engineers, conservationists and others during the
two week trip. For more information please check the site
http://bhutanrideforclimate.org
Furthermore, during the summit, a summit week captioned ‘Coming
Together to Address the Climate Challenge’ was observed (14-19th
November 2011) at the YDF center. The summit week showcased various
symposiums, exhibitions and workshops on Climate change in the
eastern Himalayas. The summit week was attended and supported by
relevant institutions within the country as well as international
participants.
6.
Climate Summit for a Living Himalayas:
The Bhutan Climate Summit for A Living Himalayas was successfully
convened in Thimphu on 19th November 2011. Presided over by the
Honourable Prime Minister of Bhutan, Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley;
Environment Ministers from the four countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan,
India and Nepal adopted a declaration on behalf of their Governments
wherein a regional 'framework of cooperation' was agreed upon.
His Excellency, Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Minister of State, Ministry of
Environment and Forests, Government of the People's Republic of
Bangladesh; His Excellency, Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, Minister, Ministry of
Agriculture and Forests and Minister-in-Charge of Environment, Royal
Government of Bhutan; Dr. Tishya Chatterjee, Secretary, Ministry of
Environment and Forests, Government of India; His Excellency, Mr. Hem
Raj Tater, Minister, Ministry of Environment, Government of Nepal
attended the Summit.
The 'Framework of Cooperation' is aimed at implementing regional
cooperative actions to build resilience to climate change in the southern
watersheds of the eastern Himalayas by: Ensuring energy security and
enhancing alternative technologies; Securing the natural freshwater
systems of the Himalayas; Ensuring food security and securing
livelihoods; and Securing biodiversity and ensuring its sustainable use.
Further a mechanism to implement the 'Framework of Cooperation' was
also agreed to. The Summit was also attended by diplomatic missions
within Bhutan and international observers.
7. Post Summit Progress
A. Focal Persons Meeting:
The country focal persons of the summit partner countries met on 2nd
august 2012 at Paro, Bhutan. The meeting:
Agreed on the priority key areas for implementation from the Summit
‘Framework of Cooperation’.
Defined th working modalities for implementation of the framework,
Agreed on a working timeline to pursue the summit outcomes.
B. First Coordination Group Meeting
The First Meeting of the Coordination Group of the Eastern Himalayan
Quadrangle Countries convened on 23rd February 2013 at Thimphu,
Bhutan to
Present projects concepts/proposals
Coordination Group,
for
consideration
by
the
Agree on modalities for sourcing funding,
Agree on a working timeline leading up to the next Coordination group
Meeting.
The meeting also agreed that India will host the second coordination
group meeting. The Second coordination group meeting is tentatively
scheduled for the month of July, 2013.