As the 17th Conference of parties (COP17) approaches, the National Environment Commission’s Secretary, Dr. Ugyen Tshewang, who will be participating at the summit, talks to Business Bhutan’s Dawa T Wangchuk on Bhutan’s stand.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
bhutan to seek a definite time line for emission cuts by developed countries at cop17
green spending equals 2.9% of gdp
Bhutan’s spending on environment has increased in the last fiscal from that of the year before and is described to be relatively better than other countries
transport sector to go green
Emissions have been growing mostly in the energy and industrial sector. Emissions were most significant from agriculture sector due to methane and nitrous oxide from livestock management.
Between the first GHG inventory of 1994 and 2000, emissions from energy grew at a rate of 21.4% a year, mostly due to transport and industrial growth.
Apart for mitigation options for other sectors, the transport sector also has various options. The second national communication report which will be presented at the 17th Conference of Parties at Durban in South Africa includes theses options.
The report says that transport demand management which includes proper design of urban areas and promotion of non-motorized transport are seen as an important mitigation measures for the transport sector.
“Some of the management strategies explored in the surface Transport Master Plan for Bhutan provide various options for mitigation in the transport sector,” states the report.
The report says that improving efficiency of petrol and diesel vehicles are important.
For this, vehicle emission standards have been established and import duties removed for spare parts that are essential in engine exhaust control.
Other measures taken include the check on quality of fuel imported after vehicle emissions monitoring revealed that fuel quality was one of the major causes of vehicle pollution in Bhutan.
“The import of old and second hand vehicles are prohibited in Bhutan and so far prevented the dumping of old and inefficient vehicles in the country which can increase green house gas emissions,” says the report.
The report also suggests other options like promotion of alternative fuels, electric and hybrid technologies and mass transport options.
“Vehicles running on alternative fuels are becoming reality in many countries often with less or practically zero pollutants and there are various options for reducing transport emissions in Bhutan,” states the report.
Some of the options are compressed natural gas as these gases are safe, clean and cheaper fuel for transport which will reduce GHG emissions and other pollutants.
The report says that compressed natural gas filling stations are more complex than regular fuel stations as high pressure, high cost of compressors, storage and dispensers are involved. “And so lack of reserves, infrastructure and difficult terrain may be barriers,” states the report.
Another option is the liquefied petroleum gas which is superior o petrol and diesel in terms of vehicular emissions. The emissions of vehicles running on LPG comprise 75% less carbon monoxide, 85% less hydrocarbons, and 40% less nitrous oxide. “These results in 87% less ozone depletion as compared to vehicles running on petrol,” says the report.
Bio-fuel is another efficient, environment friendly and natural energy alternative to petroleum based fuels. “Ethanol and bio-diesel can be used with a certain percent of blending in petrol and diesel vehicles respectively and can reduce emissions and improve urban air quality,” says the report.
The report also says that with abundant and cheap hydroelectricity, use of electricity for mass transport and electric vehicles for personal transport are viable options.
There are other options for mass transit such as electric trolley busses and light rail transit which are being explored through the Bhutan Urban Transport Systems Project as alternative transport systems.
“Mass transportation systems must be promoted to tackle congestion and air pollution in the major urban areas of Bhutan,” states the report.
Bhutan has been seeing a rapid growth of vehicles year after year. Today, Bhutan has over 53,382 vehicles.
good weather helps meet the set target and medical transit camp saves a life
This year the team reduced the water level by 1.45 meters taking the total to 3.68 meters. It is now left with 1.32 meters to meet the overall target.
This year, a little more than half the number of required workers, hired to reduce the water level of Bhutan’s most dangerous glacier lake, Lake Thorthormi, met the 1.4 meters set target.
The 209 workers including 40 women were able to bring down the water level by 1.45 meters.
The team leader, Karma Toeb, said it was all due to good weather. “We had no difficulties of any kind and we didn’t lose any single day of excavation due to bad weather,” he said, adding that the weather was on their side this year.
Compared to last year, a little more than half the number of workers required were on the site. The number of people who turned up at Thanza was only 131, but managed to recruit local residents as time passed by. The required number of workers was 360. “We did a good work this year compared to last year. Last year, there were many workers but this year despite less workers and shorter period of excavation we managed everything well,” he said.
“We will need at least one more year of working season to complete the project,” says Karma Toeb.
The project was to be completed within four years of working season which ends this year and reduce the water level by 5 meters. But in 2008 when the project started no excavation work was done due to various technical reasons. Instead of four working seasons the project had to do with only three working seasons.
The project manager, Dowchu Drukpa, said one more year of working season will be extended. “Even with less number of workers, we managed to meet the target this year. With another working season and good weather we might be able to complete the project,” he said.
Not only the excavation work turned out well this year but one of the workers also ducked the unfortunate incident that occurred last year. After the three unfortunate deaths last year, the project initiated various programs of which one was to set up transit medical camps at two different locations.
One transit medical camp was set up at 3,900 meters before the highest pass toward Lunana and the other after the highest pass at around 4,100 meters. And this helped save a life. While the team was about to reach the highest pass, one of the workers developed serious altitude sickness. He could not move any further. “He could not even descend back so a medical team was mobilized from the first transit medical camp to come and get him,” said karma Toeb.
The medical team arrived at the right moment and he was taken back. “The medical camps helped a lot. It saved one human life,” said the project manager, Dowchu Drukpa.
In 2009, the workers reduced the water level by 86 centimeter while last year they achieved 1.37 meters. This year the team achieved 1.45 meters taking the total to 3.68 meters. It is now left with 1.32 meters to meet the overall target.
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Around 40 women were also hired to reduce the water level at the Thorthormi lake. Pic: Karma Toeb |
This year, a little more than half the number of required workers, hired to reduce the water level of Bhutan’s most dangerous glacier lake, Lake Thorthormi, met the 1.4 meters set target.
The 209 workers including 40 women were able to bring down the water level by 1.45 meters.
The team leader, Karma Toeb, said it was all due to good weather. “We had no difficulties of any kind and we didn’t lose any single day of excavation due to bad weather,” he said, adding that the weather was on their side this year.
Compared to last year, a little more than half the number of workers required were on the site. The number of people who turned up at Thanza was only 131, but managed to recruit local residents as time passed by. The required number of workers was 360. “We did a good work this year compared to last year. Last year, there were many workers but this year despite less workers and shorter period of excavation we managed everything well,” he said.
“We will need at least one more year of working season to complete the project,” says Karma Toeb.
The project was to be completed within four years of working season which ends this year and reduce the water level by 5 meters. But in 2008 when the project started no excavation work was done due to various technical reasons. Instead of four working seasons the project had to do with only three working seasons.
The project manager, Dowchu Drukpa, said one more year of working season will be extended. “Even with less number of workers, we managed to meet the target this year. With another working season and good weather we might be able to complete the project,” he said.
Not only the excavation work turned out well this year but one of the workers also ducked the unfortunate incident that occurred last year. After the three unfortunate deaths last year, the project initiated various programs of which one was to set up transit medical camps at two different locations.
One transit medical camp was set up at 3,900 meters before the highest pass toward Lunana and the other after the highest pass at around 4,100 meters. And this helped save a life. While the team was about to reach the highest pass, one of the workers developed serious altitude sickness. He could not move any further. “He could not even descend back so a medical team was mobilized from the first transit medical camp to come and get him,” said karma Toeb.
The medical team arrived at the right moment and he was taken back. “The medical camps helped a lot. It saved one human life,” said the project manager, Dowchu Drukpa.
In 2009, the workers reduced the water level by 86 centimeter while last year they achieved 1.37 meters. This year the team achieved 1.45 meters taking the total to 3.68 meters. It is now left with 1.32 meters to meet the overall target.
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