Small measures that will go a long way

January 10, 2010: While climate negotiations in Copenhagen last month turned out to be a big disappointment for everyone who believed in the fight against global warming, back home small measures are being taken by individuals to curb the issue of climate change.
A group of young civil servants are taking an extra initiative by saving energy in Thimphu.
Sangay Chophel forfeits using his car once in a week. Following the agriculture minister, Lyonpo Pema Gyamtsho’s Helping Environment, Health and Economy (HEHE) walk, many individual have followed the minister’s initiative to reduce carbon emission.
“I was surprised to know that my Alto car emits 120 grams of carbon per kilometer,” he said. “I might have been contributing about two kilograms of carbon everyday just by driving.”
Like Sangay Chophel and his friends, Bhutanese today are becoming more cautious about their lifestyles. From gas guzzling cars many are making an extra effort on switching to a greener lifestyle.
Global warming is a worldwide challenge that threatens every nation. Although Bhutan has been negative on the carbon emission scale, many Bhutanese have begun to realize that even Bhutan can’t escape the impact of climate change.
Considering that fact that it will be the youth who will have to live for an extended period of time in this ever deteriorating world of climate change, a group of young Bhutanese individuals have formed a youth network called the Bhutanese Youth for Climate Action (BYCA).
According to the spokesperson from the youth network, BYCA’s main objective is to create awareness on the issues of climate change, and to take responsibility and action to fight climate change.
“We would first of all like to concentrate on educating the youth,” said Phuntsho Wangmo, a core team member of BYCA. “Each youth with us will be our ambassador to take the message back home to their family.”
In the meanwhile, with the increasing impacts of climate change many Bhutanese are taking the issue as a challenge which is everyone’s responsibility.
Karma Wangmo, a graduate from India said she has been encouraging her relatives in her village to refrain from using too much pesticides and fertilizers in their farms.
Likewise, Dorji Drakpa, a corporate employee said he makes it a point to visit his relatives and friends in his village where he tells them the importance of saving water.
“Since water is found in abundance in our country, many people take it for granted,” he said. “I always make it a point to turn off the tap when I don’t use water.”
Most people BT spoke to said the easiest way to contribute to the fight against global warming was to reduce the consumption of energy.
And it’s true that charity begins at home.
From reducing energy waste at home, reduction in the use of appliances and gas guzzling cars, most Bhutanese are opting for clean energy to reduce carbon emissions.
“It is quite alarming to see the result of your carbon footprint,” said an environmental consultant. “We might be emitting negative carbon but it’s not that we are not emitting carbon at all.”
Environmentalists say the fight against global warming is not just the governments or the people who believe in the cause.
“Infact, as carbon emitters, we are all responsible,” he said.
Bhutanese do know the way to fight global warming, now all that is needed is the will to do it.