Human-induced climate change stands as the foremost threat to the global ecosystem. The shared aspiration of limiting global warming and attaining a climate-neutral world by the mid-21st century necessitates a significant escalation in collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Local, national, regional, and global cooperation is imperative to achieve the collective goal of curbing global warming. However, reality diverges from this aspiration. Even in Bhutan, where efforts to maintain carbon neutrality shape governmental decisions, disjointed public and private programs addressing climate change persist. His Majesty the King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck’s insights, expressed in the civil service reform Kasho, emphasize the challenge of agencies pursuing isolated sectoral objectives, leading to inefficient service delivery. The sidelining of communication and coordination exacerbates this issue, driven by the pursuit of autonomy by different agencies. His Majesty’s decree emphasizes the intertwining of Bhutan’s future with regional and global developments, emphasizing the necessity of cross-sectoral communication, information exchange, and collective action.These concerns highlight the imperative for multi-sectoral collaboration and knowledge sharing to achieve common goals.
To enable timely communication and exchange of ideas, it is JSW Law’s goal to organize the Forum biennially through its Climate Change & Environmental Law Centre. The Paro Forum will serve as an interdisciplinary platform to facilitate communication and information sharing among national bodies, entities dealing with climate change issues, and interdisciplinary climate experts both within and outside Bhutan.
In the words of our visionary President, Her Royal Highness Princess Sonam Dechan Wangchuck:
“The challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation are the most pressing issues facing our world today. The impacts of rising sea levels and extreme weather events to species extinction and loss of biodiversity, are serious and far-reaching. Access to basic needs such as food security, shelter, health, and energy is increasingly at risk. Therefore, it is imperative that we act now to protect our planet and our future generations. “
Through the wisdom and energies of our President, Her Royal Highness, that the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Law was opened in 2024, with a mandate to:
“strengthen legal and policy frameworks for addressing issues concerning climate change, promoting sustainable developmet and ensuring that the impacts of climate change are addressed in a just and fair manner.”
The biennial Paro Forum is part of the mandate of the Centre and a vehicle to bring together partners from government, the private sector, civil society organizations, international organizations, agencies and academia to achieve these goals.
Three Key Strategies
Connection, Communication and Collaboration
Connection
Creating a space that enables people to connect within and across boundaries: Connecting local, national, regional and global institutions, leaders and experts for collective climate action.
Communication
Facilitating evidence-based interdisciplinary conversation: Encouraging local and global exchanges of ideas, knowledge and experiences in matters relating to climate change concerns.
Collaboration
Facilitating collaborative efforts against the threat of climate change transcending national borders: Encouraging collaboration by facilitating networking and exchanges of ideas, knowledge and experiences across borders.