The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources (MOENR) Gem Tshering addressed growing concerns over Bhutan’s air quality, particularly the rising levels of particulate matter and the main sources of air pollution. This fine pollutant poses significant health risks when inhaled over prolonged periods.
It was said that the recommended annual exposure limit for PM2.5 is between 2.5 mg/m³ and 5 mg/m³. However, Bhutan’s PM2.5 emissions currently stand at approximately 30 mg/m³ annually, which, while exceeding the recommended limits, remain significantly lower compared to other regions where emissions can reach up to 200 mg/m³ to 300 mg/m³.
The minister said that air pollution in Bhutan originates from multiple sources and transboundary pollution.
The minister said that air quality issues are not confined within national boundaries. Due to atmospheric movements, pollutants can disperse across regions, making transboundary air quality a significant challenge for Bhutan and the broader South Asian region. In urban areas, air quality is further impacted by emissions from the transport sector, construction activities, and fugitive dust emissions during dry conditions exacerbated by forest fires in winter which further worsen pollution levels.
“Additionally, the mountainous terrain can trap pollutants in valleys, limiting air circulation and causing localized pollution build-up, especially during winter when temperature inversions are common,” he said.
“Another crucial factor affecting air quality in Bhutan is temperature inversion in the southern foothills. This meteorological phenomenon traps pollutants close to the ground, leading to a decline in air quality, especially in the winter months,” he added.
He said that to keep things in perspective, the Southeast region of the sub-continent in general faces significant challenges in maintaining air quality due to rapid economic activities, including industrial expansion, urbanization, and increased transportation emissions. The overall air quality trend in the region has been on a decline, with increasing levels of particulate matter (PM) and other pollutants affecting both urban and rural populations.
The minister emphasized that tackling air pollution requires a multi-faceted approach, including cross-border cooperation, stronger regulatory enforcement, and increased public awareness of sustainable practices to reduce pollution sources.
The Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) said that air quality is not a country-specific issue, as atmospheric conditions transcend national boundaries.
“Research and studies show that the South Asia region is facing transboundary issues related to air quality. Many factors contribute to air pollution, and both urban and rural areas in the region are experiencing increased pollution loads due to rising vehicular emissions, industrialization, and occasional forest fires,” the official from DECC said.
To enhance transparency and monitoring capabilities, Bhutan is developing an online information and monitoring dashboard for air quality.
“The DECC has initiated the development of an online air quality monitoring dashboard with assistance from the World Bank and ICIMOD as part of a regional effort,” said the department.
As part of these efforts, Bhutan is in the process of procuring ten new Air Quality Monitoring (AQM) devices.
Additionally, Bhutan recently joined the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to monitor short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP).
DECC said that according to the 2022 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory, Bhutan continues to enjoy relatively good air quality. And the Constitution of Bhutan enshrines the fundamental duty to protect and respect the environment.
A study titled ‘Transboundary sources dominated PM2.5 in Thimphu, Bhutan,’ published in the International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology by S. Sharma, R. Sharma, S.K Sahu and S.H Kota showed that 81% of air pollution in Thimphu is not from local sources but from transboundary sources like India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China.
