In the heart of the Himalayas, Bhutan, the kingdom that pioneered Gross National Happiness, faces an unprecedented challenge from climate-induced disasters. Yet within this challenge lies an opportunity to transform Bhutan’s approach to weather, water, climate, and early warning services.
The urgency is undeniable. In last August, a flash flood intensified by upstream landslides impacted 70 households in Thimphu. In 2023, a devastating flash flood claimed 23 lives and caused extensive damage to the Yungichhu hydropower project construction site. In 2021, severe rainfall impacted 2,500 acres of farmland across 18 dzongkhags, resulting in the damage of 2,400 metric tonnes of crops. The country’s vulnerability is clear: Bhutan h...
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