Session 7 1 bhutan country presentation-nap_expo2015final

1. Bhutan’s experience in
implementation strategies for
Climate Change Adaptation:
Prioritizing implementation Action
NAP Expo 2015
15 April 2015,
Bonn, Germany
Mr. Thinley Namgyel &
Mr. Ugyen Tshering
National Environment Commission
Royal Government of Bhutan

2. Outline
 Bhutan’s Vulnerability to Climate Change
 Adaptation Priorities, Plans & activities
 Experiences in prioritizing implementation
 Next Steps for National Adaptation Plans
 Challenges and lessons learned

3. Bhutan’s Vulnerability
to Climate Change

4. Bhutan’s Geography
• A Landlocked least developed country
• Fragile mountainous landscape
– Eastern Himalayas
• Forest cover: 72%
India
China
India
Nepal

5. • Heavy dependence and climate
sensitive sectors
– Agriculture
– Hydropower
• Population: 720,000
– 36% urban and 64% rural
– Mainly dependent on
subsistence farming
Economy

6. Current Threats and Vulnerabilities
• Glacial Lake Outburst Floods
– due to rise temperature
• Land Degradation
– Landslides, erosion due to
changes in weather patterns,
high intensity of rainfall, cyclones
etc.
• Flashfloods
– Intense rainfall periods, cyclones
during and around monsoon
season

7. Current Vulnerabilities
• Droughts
– Especially in dry season
• Wind/thunder/hail storms
• Pests and diseases

8. Adaptation Priorities and Plans

9. Adaptation Plans
• National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA)
– Short term “urgent and immediate needs”
• Chapter on Vulnerability and Adaptation in
Second National Communication to UNFCCC
– Climate change scenarios
– Vulnerability and adaptation priorities for all sectors

10. National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA)
NAPA document prepared in 2005
• Nine prioritized actions identified in 2005
• 3 actions implemented under 1st NAPA implementation project
NAPA project profiles updated 2012
• Eight prioritized actions identified including those remaining from 2005
Ongoing Implementation of NAPA
• 2nd NAPA implementation project ongoing
• 3rd NAPA implementation project under formulation (Project
Information Form Approved)

11. Medium - Long term Adaptation Priorities
Part of Vulnerabilities & Adaptation Chapter to for Second National
Communication to UNFCCC
• Economic Diversification
• Climate proofing of hydropower and infrastructure
– Hydro dams already being built/designed with consideration of GLOF risk
• Agriculture research and diffusion of appropriate varieties and techniques
• Water resources management
• Diversification of energy mix
• Protection of forests and parks
• Scaling up of GLOF Risk Reduction
• Integrating climate change into development
• …

12. Priority actions for Adaptation Technology
In 2nd Technology Needs Assessment
Priority Sectors and Technology for Adaptation
Agriculture
• Diffusion of drought and pest resistant varieties of crops in Bhutan by
strengthening the domestic institutional structure, undertaking pilots and
establishing a national seed development fund.
Water
• Diffusion of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems in Bhutan by designing
innovative financing mechanisms and capacity building of implementing
entities in Bhutan.
Natural Disasters and Infrastructure
• Promoting and Implementing Climate-Resilient Farm Road Development

13. Implementing Adaptation

14. First NAPA Implementation Project
Reducing Climate Change-induced Risks and Vulnerabilities
from Glacial Lake Outburst Floods
in the Punakha-Wangdi and Chamkhar Valleys
(2008-2013)
(US$ 3.45m from LDCF)
Three Components
1. Artificial lowering of water level in Thorthormi Lake
2. Increase capacity for disaster risk management in affected valleys
3. Installing Technical Early Warning System for glacial lake outburst floods

15. Location of most dangerous glacial lake: Thorthormi

16. Lowering water level of Thorthormi Lake

17. Early Warning System & Disaster Preparation

18. 2nd NAPA implementation Project
Addressing the Risks of Climate Induced Disasters through Enhanced
National and Local Capacity for Effective Actions
$11.4m (2014-2017)
funded by LDCF + other co-financiers
Coordinated by:
– National Environment Commission Secretariat
Implemented by:
– Phuentsholing thromde (city)
– Mongar municipality (Mongar dzongkhag/district)
– Tarayana Foundation
– Department of Disaster Management (Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs)
– Forest resources Management Section (Ministry of Agricuture and Forests)
– Department of Hydromet Services (Ministry of Economic Affairs)
– Water Resources Coordination Division (NECS)

19. 2nd NAPA implementation Project
Outcome 1:
Risk from Climate-induced floods and landslides reduced in Bhutan’s economic
and industrial center, Phuentsholing and Pasakha Industrial Area
Outcome 2:
Community resilience to climate-induced disaster risks (droughts, floods,
landslides, windstorms, forest fires) strengthened in at least four dzongkhags
Outcome 3
Relevant information about climate-related risks and threats shared across
development sectors for planning and preparedness on a timely and reliable
basis

20. Landslide areas in Phuentsholing
Rinchending Checkpoint
Area: 38 Ac.
West-Reldri slide
Area: 12 Ac.
Rinchending Goenpa
Area: 17 Ac.
RBA colony & Old Hospital,
Area: 28.39Ac

21. Participatory consultations in communities
by Tarayana Foundation

22. Future activities for Adaptation
Formulation of National Adaptation Plans (NAP)
• Kick start in May 2015
• Coordinated by National Climate Change Focal Agency (NECS)
• Some groundwork on elements already undertaken;
– initial stock taking of activities,
– capacity needs,
– baselines on perceptions of risk,
– Build on outputs of NAPA and V&A in Second National Communication
and other work in sectors
– institutional arrangements
• Work on NAP to be initiated together with ongoing work on developing
an Intended Nationally Determined Contribution(INDC) as part of
broader integrated climate change action.
Funding uncertain for NAP and NAPA 3rd Project
... supposed to be available in LDC Fund

23. Experiences in Prioritizing Adaptation

24. Experiences in Prioritizing Adaptation
• Most relevant experience is from NAPA
– Selection, and ranking of vulnerabilities and activities for implementation
– UNFCCC/LEG Guidelines for prioritization and ranking of activities was very
useful
• Multi-criteria Analysis + Participatory and consultative process
• Prioritization of sectors and actions during Technology Needs
Assessment (TNA)
– adopted NAPA approach by modifying guidelines for TNA
• V&A under Second National Communication process
– Only selection of adaptation actions (relevancy to climate change)
– no prioritization of activities
• Similar approaches and formulas used in allocating budget for national
development activities

25. Lessons in Prioritizing Adaptation Action
1. Using a flexible prioritization approach like multi-criteria analysis helps in
decision making for prioritization of activities for implementation … especially
with limited information
2. A multi-sectoral consultative approach is essential for ensuring
acceptance/legitimacy and ownership of outcomes
3. Ensuring adequate and effective participation from all stakeholders is
challenging and requires a driver/champion
4. Understanding and capacity at local and sectoral level is important for
effective participation
5. Expectations and reality must match. Non-delivery of action after expending
energy on prioritization is detrimental due to “fatigue” of participatory
consultations for all sorts of development activities

26. Challenges
1. Funding and implementation not certain for NAP and NAPA
implementation
– Development of NAP Medium size project proposal under LDCF on
hold
– no traditional donors & development partners interested
– 3rd NAPA Project Information Form(PIF) approved but development of
full proposal put on hold
2. Capacity for NAP process will be essential
– Awareness and knowledge on NAP process can be raised easily…
– … but capacity needs on key elements such as V&A, data and info
difficult
– Capacity needs identified through various programmes but not
implemented yet

27. Challenges
3. Maintaining momentum
• Most donors interested in needs assessments & policy development… not
implementation
• Sectors see assessments and strategies to be waste of time, if no follow up
with action
4. Data and information
• Data history (climatic, disasters etc) very short
• Quality of data is poor
• Poor data archival and management.
• Mountainous conditions make global and regional climatic data sets
useless