The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The 35th Lhengye Zhungtshog Meeting held on 6 May 2014 decided that the Royal Government will seek membership in the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), whose mandate is to promote and adopt sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy. The Cabinet resolved that the measures towards accession to the IRENA Statute will be soon initiated.
Bhutan, a country where 100% of power generation is sourced from renewable energy sources, more specifically hydroelectricity, is well poised to be one of the global forerunners in the area of renewable energy. Bhutan, therefore, has much to share in the field of renewable energy.
Environmental sustainability is an essential element of Bhutan’s development philosophy of Gross National Happiness and RGoB is committed to fulfilling its pledge to remain carbon neutral for all times. RGoB affirms its intent to encourage development of hydropower and other renewable energy projects through CDM and other future international mechanisms on climate change to all extent possible.
Within the regional context, the importance of sustainably managing and developing environment through adoption of eco-friendly approaches and technologies were articulated in the Thimphu Declaration of the 16th SAARC Summit, which also reiterated that South Asia should become a world leader in low-carbon technology and renewable energies.
RGoB participated as an Observer in the First Assembly of the Agency conducted in IRENA’s permanent seat in Abu Dhabi (3-5th April 2011), which culminated in the form of the international community’s newest intergovernmental organization. The IRENA Statute was adopted in 26 January 2009, which entered into force on 8th July 2010. 168 countries are members to the IRENA (130 members and 38 states in accession).
