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Paro, Bhutan | 4 June 2026
The Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) under the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR), in collaboration with the Paro Dzongkhag Administration, celebrated World Environment Day 2026 in Paro under the global theme “Now for Climate.”
The event was observed in honour of the Birth Anniversary of Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen, the Royal Patron for the Environment. The celebration was graced by Dasho Peljor J. Dorji, Special Advisor to the National Environment Commission; the Hon’ble Secretary of MoENR; the Hon’ble Member of Parliament to the National Council; Dasho Dzongda of Paro; the Dratshang Rabdhey of Paro Dzongkhag; and representatives from UNDP and JICA. The programme commenced with the offering of butter lamps, recitation of prayers and a ceremonial cake-cutting in honour of Her Majesty.
This year’s celebration was hosted in Paro in recognition of the Dzongkhag’s exemplary commitment to environmental sustainability, particularly in waste management, environmental awareness and community participation.
A key highlight of the event was the launch and soft launch of several important environmental and climate initiatives, including:
The Pilot Initiative for the Reduction of Single-Use Plastic Carry Bags through the Promotion of Eco-Friendly Alternatives in Paro Dzongkhag;
The Environment Clearance Service System (ECSS), a digital platform aimed at improving the efficiency, transparency and accessibility of environmental clearance services;
The National Waste Inventory Survey Report 2025, providing updated national data to support evidence-based waste management planning and policy development; and
The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Assessment for Bhutan’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Process to strengthen climate adaptation planning and resilience-building efforts.
The event also recognized the contributions of individuals, educational institutions, local governments and community organizations for their outstanding commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable waste management.
Speaking on the occasion, DECC reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with all stakeholders to advance Bhutan’s environmental and climate goals and build a resilient and sustainable future for generations to come.
