Bhutan
United Nations Development Programme
Promoting Sustainable Urban development in Developing
areas.
Bhutan has made significant strides in promoting sustainable development,
particularly in the context of its unique philosophy of Gross National Happiness
(GNH). The country has embraced the green economy concept and principles, with
a constitutional mandate to maintain 60% of the land under forest cover. Bhutan's
Economic Development Policy of 2010 encourages "green growth" in promoting
industrial and private sector development. The country has several advantages in
pursuit of green economy, including a limited number of polluting industries, a
predominantly agrarian society, and a nature-based economy. Bhutan has also
made progress in reducing extreme poverty and promoting gender equality, with
continuing efforts to address social inequality issues and regional disparities.
However, Bhutan's expanding urban population presents a considerable affordable
housing challenge, and the country faces difficulty in dealing with the pressures that
urban populations put on infrastructure, basic services, land, housing, and the
environment. Bhutan is drawing important lessons from the pandemic, including the
need for long-term, transformative, and green solutions for its food system, local
economy, public services delivery, approaches to learning, data ecosystem, and
preparedness for disasters and future pandemics.
Bhutan has been actively engaged in promoting sustainable urban development,
particularly in the context of its unique Gross National Happiness (GNH) philosophy.
The country has experienced rapid urbanization, with the urban population growth
rate being the highest among South Asian countries from 2000-2010. Despite this,
Bhutan has largely eradicated extreme urban poverty, with only 1.8 percent of the
urban population living under the national poverty line in 2012, the lowest in South
Asia. However, the expanding urban population presents a considerable affordable
housing challenge for the country. In response to the challenges posed by
urbanization, Bhutan has taken several actions to promote sustainable urban
development. The country has a strong policy and legislative framework aimed at
developing a low-carbon path with enhanced resilience, and it has enacted
strategies and guidelines to achieve this goal. Bhutan's Economic Development
Policy of 2010 embraces the green economy concept and principles, with a
constitutional mandate to maintain 60% of the land under forest cover. The country
has also focused on developing clean energy by harnessing hydropower and
renewable energy sources, as well as promoting organic production practices in
agriculture, forests, and biodiversity resources. In summary, Bhutan has
demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting sustainable urban development
through its policy framework, legislative initiatives, and focus on green economy
principles. The country's efforts to address the challenges of urbanization while
maintaining its unique GNH philosophy serve as an example for sustainable
development in the South Asian region and beyond.
Bhutan has implemented various solutions to promote sustainable urban
development in developing areas, focusing on resilience, livability, and
environmental well-being. The World Bank has been involved in the Bhutan Urban
Development Project, which aims to provide sustainable solutions that reduce
poverty and build shared prosperity in developing countries. Bhutan has developed
a strong policy and legislative framework for urban resilience, with a focus on
enhancing resilience in urban development and its expanded services. The country
has enacted strategies and guidelines as a roadmap to achieve a low-carbon path
with enhanced resilience. Bhutan has recognized the considerable affordable
housing challenge posed by the expanding urban population. Efforts have been
made to address this challenge through policy measures and strategic planning.
Bhutan has actively engaged in workshops and knowledge-sharing initiatives to
build the capacity of local stakeholders and address pressing urban challenges.
These initiatives have focused on sustainable urban planning, climate change, and
community participation, aligning with Bhutan's commitment to Gross National
Happiness and holistic development philosophy. Bhutan's Economic Development
Policy embraces the green economy concept and principles, encouraging green
growth in promoting industrial and private sector development. The country has
leveraged its advantages, such as a constitutional mandate to maintain 60% of the
land under forest cover, to promote clean energy, organic production practices, and
sustainable use of natural resources.