Bhutan Youth Declaration on Climate Action
"Bhutan Youth Declaration for Climate Action- The Future We Want: For a Living Himalayas"
On 11 December, 2021, representatives from the Royal Government led by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lyonpo Dr. Tandi Dorji, the UN Resident Coordinator Gerald Daly and the UN Country Team and 200 youth representatives presented the ‘Bhutan Youth Declaration for Climate Action- The Future We Want: For a Living Himalayas’ which was received by the Foreign Minister on behalf of the Royal Government. The declaration not only contains pledges from youth all over Bhutan to do their part but also seeks immediate intervention from the Royal Government and the society as a whole in upholding their roles as trustees of the country’s natural environment as enshrined in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan.
The youth declaration was written by the youth for the youth by 60 young people who met at the College of Natural Resources on 20 November.
Prior to the event on 10 December, the declaration was read out by a student representative from each school across the country. The declaration is expected to see about 200,000 signatories in the country.
During the event on 11 December, a time capsule project was also launched which contains pledges from people across the country who have made commitments to changing their day-to-day habits to become more environmentally friendly. These pledges have been placed in the time capsule to mark Bhutan’s 50th anniversary as a member to the UN and will be opened by these young people 25 years from now – in 2046 when the UN Bhutan turns 75.
Nidup Dorji, a final year student at the College of Natural Resources read out a statement on behalf of the youth of Bhutan highlighting on their (youth of Bhutan) worries about their future in an uncertain world challenged by the impact of climate change.
“The climate crisis scene around the world, often makes us youth question about our existence- about our future. Are we really going to be among the 1.8 billion youth population who is going to live in a world filled with climate catastrophe?”- he questioned guests present at the event.
This is also the closing event of the year-long planned activities to mark Bhutan’s 50th anniversary as a member to the United Nations.