Why Bhutan Has Chosen a Path Less Travelled: A Story of Transformative Change by Her Royal Highness Princess Sonam Dechan Wangchuck -- From the 2022 Blue Planet Prize Commemorative Lecture

The Kingdom of Bhutan is a mountainous nation located on the south facing side of the Himalayas. Its population is approximately 750,000 and area about 38,000 square kilometers, almost the same size as the Kyushu island in Japan. Melted snow water from the Himalayan glaciers and rainfalls brought by monsoons flow into the rivers which meander through the mountains. The Bhutanese people live in a harsh but beautiful nature.

His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck ascended the throne in 1972 as the Fourth King of Bhutan. Becoming the king at a young age of 16, he reflected over how he should govern the country and, to search for an answer, he visited every corner of the country and had numerous discussions with its people. The answer he finally found was that, in essence, people wanted happiness. With this insight, he promulgated the development philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) in early 1970s.

"The Fourth King conceived GNH in the firm belief that the purpose of development must at all times be to promote the contentment and wellbeing of the people. In Bhutan, development was thought best when incorporating all aspects: good governance, social harmony, preservation of a pristine environment, preserving culture, and safeguarding the security and sovereignty of the country. GNH becomes truly meaningful when it is translated into national policies and priorities," said Her Royal Highness Princess Sonam Dechan Wangchuck.

"Bhutan's path is marked by the landmark contributions during His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck's reign. During his time Bhutan saw great progress. Sustainable development, a pristine environment, proactive laws, democracy, our Constitution, GNH, and good governance were all hallmarks."

Guided by the philosophy of GNH, Bhutan achieved momentous progress during the reign of the Fourth King. The policy of free education and health for all transformed the quality of people's life. The prioritization of good governance with focus on decentralization and empowerment of people resulted in Bhutan's adoption of a written Constitution and a smooth transition from absolute monarchy to parliamentary democracy in 2008. On the other hand, in the face of rapid modernization, Bhutan's rich traditions and culture thrived.

Another equally notable achievement of Bhutan during the reign of the Fourth King was the protection and preservation of natural environment that made Bhutan one of the top ten biological hotspots in the world.

Her Royal Highness Princess Sonam said, "Long before environmental concerns became a global agenda, the Fourth King made the protection and preservation of the environment a national priority. He saw beforehand the increasing pressure that development would exert on the finite planet and its fragile ecosystems. Today, our Constitution mandates 60% of our land under forest coverage and entrusts every Bhutanese as a trustee of our environment."

The Constitution of Bhutan has many unique features and it is perhaps the only one that has an entire clause dedicated to the protection of the environment.

With forests covering more than 70 per cent of its land, Bhutan is one of few countries that are carbon negative, absorbing more carbon dioxide than it emits. At the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Copenhagen in 2009, Bhutan pledged to the world that it would remain carbon negative for perpetuity.

Her Royal Highness said that in spite of its efforts, Bhutan faces multiple challenges and threats from climate change and climate-induced extreme weather.

"High up in the Himalayas, Bhutan's glaciers are fast retreating, threatening an increased risk of glacial lake outburst floods. The biggest fear is that climate change will undo and derail all the socio-economic development gains achieved by delicate balance of development and environment over several decades by our visionary monarchs and leaders. If Bhutan's journey and path inspires others to the right reflection and public policy deliberations, then we are encouraged to try harder and to do better."

The lives and livelihoods of the Bhutanese people, including the advancements made such as hydro power generation, are under threat from climate change. The issue of climate change is too great a challenge to be solved by any one country alone.

Tourism is one of the most important sectors and foreign exchange earners for Bhutan. At the same time, Bhutan is conscious of the impact mass tourism would have on its fragile mountain ecosystem and vibrant traditional culture.

"Under the policies laid out by our visionary Kings, from the very start of tourism in the early 1970s, Bhutan has strived for a path: a road that is less travelled, to a destination that is pristine, exclusive, and rich in culture and heritage. Bhutan's tourism is unique in the world. In fact, our sustainable approach of 'High Value, Low Volume' tourism was a conscious, deliberate, and far-sighted vision. This has become even more relevant in the present context, which has forced nations to rethink sustainable-development approaches as the new normal," said Her Royal Highness Princess Sonam.

Due to the outbreak of the pandemic, Bhutan closed down the borders to international travelers in March 2020. After a break of two years, Bhutan reopened its borders on September 23, 2022, with a revamped policy of High Value, Low Volume tourism. One component of the new tourism policy of Bhutan is that tourists would have to pay a Sustainable Development Fee of 200 US dollars a day. The fee paid by the tourists are used to develop tourist infrastructure, protect the environment and support education, health and other social services for Bhutanese people. While tourists may arrive in Bhutan as guests and visitors, their presence in Bhutan will make them partners in appreciating and preserving Bhutan's priceless heritage.

The world around us is changing dramatically. Uncertainty and instability have become normal as we have lived through the pandemic, impact of climate change, and wars. Advancements in technology are also dramatically changing our systems and communication. In such time of change, Bhutan is also in a period of transition.

To prepare for an unpredictable future, Bhutan began nurturing its citizens' capacity to face the future. Her Royal Highness Princess Sonam said, "It is critical that we seize these opportunities, enhance the capabilities of our people, and strengthen the economic and governance framework, and ultimately ensure that our children inherit a peaceful, secure and successful nation."

Bhutan is conducting a major project of reviewing, reforming, and rebuilding the fundamental part of its nation-building, that is, its education system, civil service, and governance. In the words of Her Royal Highness Princess Sonam, the purpose of this reform is "to prepare our people for a resilient future."

"We are currently known all over the world as a dependable nation. The country is well known for our values, environmental conservation efforts, and for following the philosophy of Gross National Happiness. The Fourth King has set a great foundation, and now the time has come for Bhutan to learn how to use our good reputation to our advantage."

In concluding her story, Her Royal Highness Princess Sonam expressed her strong belief that Bhutan would be able to overcome the complex challenges it faced.

"The inspiration we seek to navigate the complexities of the 21st century challenges facing Bhutan, is manifested in the timeless wisdom of His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan, referred to as The Great Fourth, and today, it continues to be advanced and consolidated by the clear-sighted vision of His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, The People's King, as he charts transformative changes for a new Bhutan."

Lastly, Her Royal Highness Princess Sonam conveyed the Fourth King's wish to dedicate the 2022 Blue Planet Prize to the generations of Bhutanese who have given support to preserving the country's natural environment, and to individuals and organizations from across the world who have made significant contributions toward solving the most pressing challenges that humankind faces today.

"The Blue Planet Prize not only recognizes these efforts; it also inspires a renewed commitment to conserve the environment. May Bhutan serve as an example, of a path less travelled by, in consistent acts that build a better and safer shared world for ourselves and for our children," stated Her Royal Highness Princess Sonam.