Climate Adaptation Finance Workshop

Thimphu, Bhutan, 6 June 2011

The workshop brought together RGoB managers from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gross National Happiness Commission, the NEC, and the key sector ministries involved in activities impacted by climate change along with representatives from UNDP and UNCDF. The workshop focused on identifying and evaluating financing measures and resources to reduce vulnerability and adapt to climate change.

For Bhutan this is critical as downscaled climate scenarios are indicating very significant changes in temperature and rainfall. These changes will impact rural communities, agricultural and energy production, and transport, municipal services, and a host of other potential sectors including health, tourism, and biodiversity. The costs are likely to be significant and additional to Bhutan’s existing development requirements, while there are a variety of existing and potential approaches and financing sources that RGoB and the Bhutanese people may tap.

Participants agreed that further work is needed to develop a national climate adaptation strategy, and that additional information on the climate adaptation funds and guidelines for applying will be important for Bhutan to prepare and fund needed adaptation measures at the sectoral and coordinated levels. The meeting agenda is below, and the presentations are found in the agenda links.

For Minutes of the meeting: Click Here