In a significant policy upgrade, the Bhutanese government has introduced a new climate-focused dimension to its famed Gross National Happiness (GNH) index. The updated model includes indicators like glacial melt, biodiversity loss, and disaster preparedness.
The move aligns with Bhutan’s COP28 commitments and its efforts to become carbon negative by 2035. Officials say this index will guide decisions on tourism, hydropower, and infrastructure in ecologically sensitive zones.
Indian environmental think tanks in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, along with climate NGOs in Bangladesh, are keen to adopt or collaborate on a Himalayan Happiness-Climate Resilience model for regional application.