Developing a National Clean Air Action Plan for Bhutan

About the workshop

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development is collaborating with the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC), Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR) in Bhutan to develop a National Clean Air Action Plan (NCAAP) for Bhutan. The NCAAP will target domestic pollution sources, safeguard public health, sustain Bhutan’s unique environment, and uphold its global reputation as a carbon-negative nation. To launch the NCAAP development process, an inception workshop is being organised in Thimphu on 15 September 2025.

The workshop will convene government agencies, technical institutions, policymakers, and stakeholders to set the foundation for a coordinated, evidence-based approach to improving air quality.

Objectives  

This inception workshop marks the formal launch of the Bhutan’s NCAAP process, and aims to achieve the following objectives:

• Share the existing status, challenges, and gaps in air quality management and the regulatory framework.
• Identify key stakeholders and outline their roles in the action plan process.
• Orient the policy planners, line department officials, experts and stakeholders to the scope, methodology, and expected outcomes of the NCAAP.
• Foster collaboration and coordination across government agencies to ensure smooth execution of the NCAAP process.
• Gather stakeholder inputs, and build consensus on the execution methodology, strategies, and approaches for the initiation of the NCAAP development.
• Outline a roadmap for the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the NCAAP.
• Solicit feedback on proposed methodology, priority areas, gaps, and opportunities.

For ICIMOD, this event is part of Action Area: Air, Strategic Group: Climate and Environmental Risks. It is delivered through the Himalayan Resilience Enabling Action Programme (HI-REAP), supported by the United Kingdom International Development.

Expected outcomes

• Shared understanding and ownership of NCAAP development framework and timeline. Clear framework on the planned objectives, priority sectors, and geographic focus.
• Consensus on methodologies for data generation, monitoring, emission inventories and source apportionment.
• Agreement on coordination mechanism, including nomination of nodal officers from key departments, and technical institutions.
• Clear institutional roles and responsibilities for NCAAP development and execution.

More about the initiative

Bhutan known for its carbon negative status and commitment to Gross National Happiness (GNH). However, rapid urbanization, increased vehicular traffic, industrial activity, residential burning, waste and biomass burning, and transboundary pollution are contributing to emerging air quality challenges.

Although Bhutan’s air quality remains better than most South Asian countries, localised pollution, particularly in urban centres poses serious threats to public health, the environment, biodiversity, and climate resilience.

Recent data indicates Bhutan’s annual average PM2.5 concentration ranges between 30–38µg/m³, consistently exceeding the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended annual mean of 10µg/m³. In Thimphu, wintertime PM2.5 levels have been reported at more than four times the WHO guideline, with a significant number of days each year crossing safe thresholds (Sharma et al., 2021).

Bhutan’s complex topography often limits the dispersal of local pollutants, while meteorological phenomena such as winter temperature inversions exacerbate pollution levels by trapping pollutants close to the surface. Local sources such as transportation, industries, space heating, cooking, and open biomass burning remain primary contributors.

The Royal Government of Bhutan has consistently taken proactive measures to reform policies that support clean energy, improve public health, and protect the environment. Building on this commitment, the development of a comprehensive, evidence-based National Clean Air Action Plan (NCAAP) is now underway. The NCAAP will target domestic pollution sources, safeguard public health, sustain Bhutan’s unique environment, and uphold its global reputation as a carbon-negative nation.