AGP Executive Report

Regional Climate Action: Bhutan joined India, Nepal and Bangladesh in new assessments of heat preparedness as a strengthening El Niño raises the risk of another severe South Asian heat season. India and the EU also launched an industry coalition to develop lower-emission shipping routes and expand green-fuel trade. Farming Resilience: In eastern Bhutan, 38 community resource persons from 21 gewogs are training to help farmers respond to erratic rainfall, drying water sources and rising pest and disease threats. Clean Energy: Druk Green Power and Adani Power signed an agreement to develop the 770 MW Chamkharchhu-I hydropower project in Zhemgang, with construction expected to begin in 2027. Wildlife Corridors: A five-year elephant-tracking study in Assam found seasonal routes extending into Bhutan’s Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary, offering information to guide cross-border conservation and reduce conflict. Mountain Pollution: A review documents microplastics in Himalayan glaciers, snow, rivers and soils, with pollution posing risks to ecosystems and downstream water supplies.

Extreme Heat: Bhutan has joined India, Nepal and Bangladesh in a regional effort to prepare for worsening heat. New country assessments identify gaps in readiness as El Niño strengthens. Wildlife Corridors: A five-year GPS study tracked elephant movements across Assam, including routes into Bhutan’s Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary, offering insight to guide cross-border conservation. Climate-Smart Farming: In eastern Bhutan, 38 community resource persons from 21 gewogs are training to help farmers respond to erratic rain, water shortages and new crop pests. Hydropower: Druk Green Power and Adani Power signed an agreement for the 770 MW Chamkharchhu-I project in Zhemgang, with construction expected to start in 2027. Himalayan Pollution: A regional review warns that microplastics are present in glaciers, snow, freshwater and soils across the Hindu Kush Himalaya, including Bhutan, with risks to ecosystems and downstream water supplies.

Extreme Heat: Bhutan has joined India, Nepal and Bangladesh in a new effort to prepare for worsening heat as El Niño strengthens. Country assessments identify preparedness gaps and health risks. Climate-Ready Farming: In Mongar, 38 community resource persons from 21 gewogs are training to help farmers adapt to erratic rain, drying water sources, floods and new pests. Hydropower: Druk Green Power and Adani Power signed an agreement for the 770 MW Chamkharchhu-I project in Zhemgang, with construction expected to start in 2027. Disaster Preparedness: A €19 million EU-backed satellite data programme will support climate adaptation, early warnings and resilient infrastructure in Bhutan and six other South Asian countries.

Wildlife Corridors: A five-year GPS study mapped more than 38,000 elephant locations across Assam, showing seasonal routes through farms, forests and tea estates. Some elephants move between Assam and Bhutan’s Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary, underscoring the need to protect cross-border habitat. Hydropower: Bhutan’s Druk Green Power and Adani Power signed an agreement for the 770 MW Chamkharchhu-I project on the Chamkharchhu River in Zhemgang. Construction is expected to start in 2027; the 49:51 partnership aims to boost power supply and exports. Disaster Preparedness: A new €19 million EU, CDRI and European Space Agency programme will help Bhutan and six other South Asian countries use satellite data for early warnings, climate adaptation and resilient infrastructure. Mountain Pollution: A regional review finds microplastics in Himalayan snow, glaciers, rivers and soils, with pollution linked to local activity and long-range transport. Farm Adaptation: Solar-powered pumps are being explored to lift water to fields in Tili, Paro, and Yebisa, Punakha, where steep terrain limits conventional irrigation.

Hydropower: Bhutan’s Druk Green Power and Adani Power signed a 49:51 partnership to develop the 770 MW Chamkharchhu-I run-of-river project in Zhemgang. Construction is expected to start in 2027, with the project intended to help meet winter power needs and support summer exports. Wildlife Corridors: A five-year GPS study in Assam found elephants use routes between the state and Bhutan’s Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary, highlighting the need to protect habitats across borders. Himalayan Pollution: A new review reports microplastics in the Hindu Kush Himalaya’s glaciers, snow, rivers and soils. Pollution could harm ecosystems and affect meltwater flowing into major river basins. Climate Adaptation: Proposed solar-powered pumps in Tili, Paro, and Yebisa, Punakha, could lift water to farms beyond the reach of gravity-fed irrigation, helping communities manage dry spells.

Microplastics in the Himalayas: A new ScienceDirect meta-analysis flags rising microplastic risks across the Hindu Kush Himalaya, finding pollutants in glaciers, snow, rivers and soils, with tourism and litter plus long-range transport driving contamination—raising concerns for downstream water for nearly two billion people. Wildlife under pressure: Research reports Himalayan monals are changing their calls in noisier human areas, shifting frequency and call length to cut through traffic and crowds. Hydropower & energy: Adani Power and Bhutan’s Druk Green Power Corporation signed a Shareholders Agreement for the 770 MW Chamkharchhu-I run-of-river project in Zhemgang, using a 49:51 BOOT partnership and targeting construction start in early 2027, aiming to meet Bhutan’s winter peak and export surplus power to India. Climate-smart irrigation: Bhutan’s HI-CAS adaptation work is exploring solar-powered lift irrigation for mountain farms in Paro (Tili) and Punakha (Yebisa), to reach fields where steep terrain blocks gravity-fed water. Clean air focus in Thimphu: Coverage highlights August data confirming cleaner air in Thimphu, alongside efforts to tackle open burning and monitor industry emissions. Conservation support: Marwell 10K in the UK raised about £22,500 for Bhutan tiger conservation, backing community conflict-reduction and livestock protection efforts.

Hydropower Deal: Adani Power and Bhutan’s Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) signed a Shareholders Agreement for the 770 MW Chamkharchhu-I hydropower project in Zhemgang, a peaking run-of-river scheme under a 49:51 equity split and 30-year BOOT concession; construction is expected to start in the first half of 2027, with commissioning targeted within six years—positioned to meet Bhutan’s winter power needs and enable summer surplus exports to India. Wildlife & Conflict: A new five-year GPS tracking study by Assam Forest Department and WWF-India mapped seasonal elephant movement across Assam, flagging key habitats and showing how paddy cropping expands elephant home ranges and coincides with higher human-elephant conflict. Water & Climate Adaptation: Bhutan’s HI-CAS project is exploring solar-powered lift irrigation for mountain farms in Tili (Paro) and Yebisa (Punakha) to overcome steep terrain that blocks conventional irrigation. Air & Waste Control: Thimphu’s clean-air updates and efforts to tackle open burning and monitor industrial pollution continue to draw attention. Seeds for Resilience: Bhutan is training SAARC experts to boost local hybrid vegetable seed production (tomato and chilli), aiming to reduce dependence on imports and improve yields under erratic weather. Conservation Fundraising: Marwell’s 10K race in Bhutan raised about £22,500 for tiger conservation, supporting community coexistence and conflict-reduction work.

Hydropower Deal: Adani Power and Bhutan’s state-owned Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) have signed a Shareholders Agreement for the 770 MW Chamkharchhu-I hydropower project in Zhemgang, a peaking run-of-river scheme under a 49:51 equity split and a 30-year BOOT concession; construction is expected to start in the first half of 2027 with commissioning targeted within six years. Clean Energy at Home: Bhutan Ecological Society, with MicroEnergy Credits under the Bhutan-Singapore Carbon framework, is rolling out subsidised electric cookstoves and electric space heaters—starting with a pilot of 300 units across six dzongkhags—to cut reliance on firewood and LPG. Air Quality Update: Thimphu’s August air monitoring shows PM levels staying well below Environmental Standards 2020 limits across all 31 days, with plans to expand public dashboard coverage to Phuentsholing. Waste & Burning Controls: Thimphu Thromde says open waste burning is rare but still reported in some areas; regulators are pushing stronger waste segregation, collection, recycling and resource recovery, with penalties for offenders. Digital Safety in Bhutan: Paro hosted a regional Asia-Pacific forum on digital cooperation, focusing on online safety, data protection and cybersecurity as countries modernise digital systems. Conservation Fundraising: Marwell’s 10K in Bhutan raised about £22,500 for tiger conservation, supporting community coexistence, livestock protection and conflict reduction.

Gelephu Mindfulness City: Bhutan’s Gelephu International Airport moves into runway and permanent airfield works after earthworks near completion, with GMCA awarding the contract to Rigsar-Vajra Joint Venture—aiming to connect Bhutan to the world while keeping “environment” and safety in focus. Clean energy & air: Bhutan Ecological Society, with MicroEnergy Credits, is rolling out a carbon-reduction push under the Bhutan-Singapore Carbon framework—targeting 100,000 clean cookstoves and electric space heaters to cut firewood/LPG use and indoor air pollution, starting with a pilot of 300 units across six dzongkhags. Thimphu air quality: DECC data shows August air in Thimphu stayed well within Environmental Standards 2020 limits across all 31 days, while regulators continue tackling open waste burning and industrial emissions pressures. Wildlife conservation: Marwell’s 10K at Marwell Zoo raised about £22,500 so far for Bhutan tiger conservation, supporting community coexistence, livestock protection and conflict reduction. Disaster preparedness: Newcastle University research models glacial lake outburst flood risks in Lunana, using low-cost sensors and local knowledge to build early warning hazard maps for remote communities. Food security: Bhutan is training SAARC experts in local hybrid vegetable seed production (tomato and chilli) to reduce dependence on imports and improve resilience to pests, diseases and erratic weather.

Bhutan’s climate risk research: Newcastle University-backed work is modelling glacial lake outburst flood risk in Lunana, using low-cost sensors and local knowledge to build hazard maps and early warning for communities near Lake Thorthormi Tsho. Gelephu flood safety: The Gelephu Flood Protection Project is now complete, with works handed over to Gelephu Mindfulness City to protect vulnerable river stretches in Sarpang as the city prepares for rapid growth. Gelephu airport push: GMCA has awarded the next construction contract for Gelephu International Airport, shifting from earthworks to runway and permanent airfield infrastructure—while stressing quality, safety and environmental care. Wildlife and conservation links: A major tiger reintroduction in India’s Buxa Tiger Reserve is underway with a tigress translocated from Bihar, highlighting the wider Himalayan conservation corridor context that also touches Bhutan. Tourism and environment pressures: Bhutan’s growth outlook is tied to tourism resilience amid higher fuel costs, inflation and El Niño risks, with industry and electricity driving momentum while agriculture remains weather-sensitive.

Gelephu Mindfulness City: Bhutan’s Gelephu Flood Protection Project is now complete, with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport handing over finished works to GMCA to protect vulnerable river stretches in Sarpang as the city prepares for rapid growth. Gelephu International Airport: GMCA has awarded the next major construction contract for Gelephu International Airport, moving from earthworks toward runway and permanent airfield infrastructure—while stressing quality, safety, and environmental care. Climate risk & early warning: Newcastle University research is modelling glacial lake outburst flood risks in Bhutan, focusing on Lunana near Lake Thorthormi Tsho, and using low-cost sensors to support hazard maps and earlier local warnings. Hydropower resilience: Bhutan Power Corporation reports improved electricity reliability in Jigmecholing after maintenance and vegetation clearance, though heavy rain and lightning still trigger outages. Conservation & livelihoods: A Bhutan tiger co-existence challenge is pushing practical solutions for human-tiger conflict, including reducing livestock dependence and improving reporting, barriers, and community livelihoods. Health innovation: Druk Holding & Investments is partnering with the Tower Council Foundation to build a “generational health” research and innovation ecosystem in Bhutan. Tourism policy signal: Bhutan’s controlled tourism model is highlighted by reports of new direct flights enabling small-group tours, with daily tourism fees built into packages.

Wildlife still hidden: Researchers in China’s Qinghai–Xizang Plateau described a new blind snake, Indotyphlops gyirongensis, found near a forest road by the China–Nepal border—another reminder that Himalayan ecosystems still hold species we barely know. Bhutan climate risk & early warning: Newcastle University research modelled glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) risk in Lunana, using low-cost sensors and local knowledge to support hazard maps and earlier warnings for communities near Lake Thorthormi Tsho. Gelephu resilience: Bhutan’s Gelephu Flood Protection Project is now complete, with the government handing over completed works to Gelephu Mindfulness City to protect vulnerable river stretches ahead of rapid urban growth. Power reliability: Bhutan Power Corporation reports improved electricity reliability in Jigmecholing after maintenance, vegetation clearance and network upgrades, even as heavy rain and lightning still disrupt supply. Climate outlook: NCHM forecasts a drier-than-normal start to October in Bhutan as a very strong El Niño develops, with rainfall likely below normal early in the month. Conservation push (regional): West Bengal began a phased tiger reintroduction in Buxa with tigress T138 from Bihar’s Valmiki reserve, alongside plans for more releases and monitoring.

Climate & Water Security: Bhutan’s NCHM warns El Niño is likely to bring a drier-than-normal start to October, with rainfall easing in most areas before returning closer to normal later in the month. Disaster Risk & Early Warning: Newcastle University research is modelling glacial lake outburst flood risk in Bhutan (focused on Lunana and Lake Thorthormi Tsho), using low-cost sensors and local knowledge to support earlier warnings for remote communities. Hydropower Resilience: Bhutan Power Corporation says reliability has improved in Jigmecholing after maintenance and vegetation clearance, though heavy rain and lightning still trigger outages. Urban Flood Protection: Gelephu’s flood protection project is now complete and handed over to Gelephu Mindfulness City, strengthening vulnerable river stretches ahead of rapid growth. Wildlife Co-existence: A Human-Tiger Co-existence Challenge in Bhutan is pushing practical solutions to reduce livestock losses, with teams proposing livelihood-focused approaches alongside conflict-reduction ideas. Conservation Funding: Marwell 10K in Bhutan raised about £22,500 for endangered tiger conservation, supporting community engagement, livestock protection and habitat management. Tourism & Sustainability: Experts say tourism’s future hinges on sustainability and authenticity, with travelers increasingly seeking responsible options—an angle Bhutan can lean into as it grows.

Glacial risk and early warning: Newcastle University research is modelling glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) risks in Bhutan’s Lunana, using low-cost sensors and local knowledge to build hazard maps and improve warnings for remote communities near Lake Thorthormi. Climate outlook: Bhutan’s National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology expects a drier-than-normal start to October as a strong El Niño develops, with rainfall likely below usual in early October before easing later. Flood protection for growth: Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City received the completed Gelephu Flood Protection Project, strengthening four vulnerable river stretches in Sarpang to protect land and infrastructure ahead of rapid urban expansion. Water stress in Paro: In Tili village (Shaba, Paro), residents say shrinking wetland and unreliable spring-fed streams are drying up farms and limiting paddy cultivation. Conservation and coexistence: Bhutan’s human-tiger coexistence challenge highlights livelihood-focused solutions for communities near forests, after hundreds of livestock losses reported in Trongsa (2020–2024). Health innovation push: Druk Holding & Investments partnered with the Tower Council Foundation to build a “generational health” ecosystem linking research, clinical practice, data and innovation across Bhutan.

Tiger conservation in focus: West Bengal’s Buxa Tiger Reserve has welcomed a three-year-old tigress (T138) translocated from Bihar’s Valmiki reserve, ending an eight-year gap since tigers were last recorded there. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said three more tigers will be released within two months, with plans for up to six over the coming years—alongside habitat and prey support to reduce human-tiger conflict. Flood resilience for Bhutan’s growth: Bhutan’s Gelephu Flood Protection Project is now complete, with completed works handed over to Gelephu Mindfulness City to protect four vulnerable river stretches in Sarpang from flooding and erosion as the city prepares for rapid expansion. Climate outlook for Bhutan: Bhutan’s National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology warns El Niño is likely to bring a drier-than-normal start to October, with rainfall below usual in most areas early in the month. Human-wildlife coexistence: Bhutan’s Pelsups teams returned with livelihood and conflict-reduction proposals after field work, targeting gaps in insurance, reporting, fencing and—most strongly—community livelihoods to ease tiger pressure. Health innovation push: Druk Holding & Investments and the Tower Council Foundation announced a Generational Health partnership to build Bhutan’s long-term health research, clinical practice, data and innovation ecosystem.

Wildlife & Biodiversity: West Bengal’s Buxa Tiger Reserve welcomed its first resident tigress in decades— a 3-year-old Royal Bengal tigress translocated from Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve—after being tranquilised, airlifted, and held in a soft enclosure before release on 2 Oct; officials say three more tigers are planned within two months under a five-year tiger augmentation project focused on habitat, prey and wildlife corridors. Himalayan Climate Risk: A New York Times feature flags how climate disasters are hitting South Asian cities hardest, citing a resilience index where Dhaka and Chittagong rank among the least prepared—an urgent reminder for the region’s shared vulnerability. Bhutan Environment & Health: Bhutan marked World Rabies Day with WHO validation for eliminating dog-transmitted human rabies as a public health problem, crediting a “One Health” approach and nationwide dog population management and rabies control. Hydropower & Resilience: ANDRITZ won a contract for four Pelton turbine-generator units for Bhutan’s 600MW Khorlochhu hydropower project, supporting the country’s green energy expansion. Urban Cleanliness: Thimphu Thromde reported that CCTV surveillance has helped curb littering and illegal dumping, recording dozens of cases and fines since the system began. Cross-border Conservation Skills: Two Assam mahouts from Manas National Park were certified as “Master Mahouts,” enabling them to train elephant handlers internationally—boosting regional wildlife care capacity.