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city profile: thimphu
Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan which is located within an area space of 1,794.87 km2,. A population of 116,012 lives in Thimphu Dzongkhag in 2015 with an estimated population density of 64.6 per km2 (National Statistics Bureau, 2017a) and future projection foresee the city to grow. Thimphu’s households are 100% electrified. 64.3% of Thimphu’s land is covered by the forest (in 2016) (National Statistics Bureau, 2017a), which contributes in net carbon sink. Some of Thimphu’s initiatives on energy generation/conservation, sustainable transport and waste management are discussed below: Energy In response to an increasing energy demand in the city, Thimphu is initiating measures to implement renewable energy (e.g. Solar and Wind) and improve energy efficiency. Thimphu is replacing street lamps with LED lighting which could save 2 to 3 million units of electricity each year (Tshomo, 2015; ICLEI, 2016). Transport Vehicle density is high in urban areas of Bhutan, including Thimphu. The city public transport services (buses) are inadequate so that use of taxis and private modes of transport (private cars and two wheelers) are increasing. Metropolitan areas have typical characteristics of higher incomes, shorter travel times, and more incentives to improve air quality or reduce CO2 emissions, making them more suitable for EV programs. Thimphu has these characteristics, which, along with its mild climate, make it a good pilot area for testing the new EVs and building a foundation for a cost-effective countrywide roll-out (Zhu, Patella, Steinmetz, & Peamsilpakulchorn, 2016). Bhutan plans to make Thimphu - a clean Green Electric city (Tshering, 2014). As of March 2016, 52 Nissan Leaf EVs had been introduced in Bhutan, including 13 for government officials and 39 for general users, most of which in Thimphu (Gross National Happiness Commission, 2016). A quick charging stations on the road between Paro and Thimphu, the two main cities of Bhutan, are available (Tijhuis, n.d.). Moreover, Thimphu municipality plans to build dedicated cycle lanes and tracks around the city, and transforming Thimphu into a bicycle-friendly city (Sundas, 2016). Waste management The main challenges in waste management in urban areas in Bhutan (including Thimphu) are illegal dumping of waste (although waste collection services are available) and lack of cooperation in segregation and disposal of waste. Thimphu has piloted evening waste collection services and CCTV surveillance to monitor illegal dumping (Ghalley, 2017). The availability of not enough waste compost plants and landfill sites are also an issue in Thimphu. To tackle this, the city is planning to explore technology either to make composting faster or to establish a bio-gas plant (which requires waste segregation at the source) (Bhutan Times, 2017). Greener Way and Clean City are private companies (outsourced by Thimphu municipality) to manage waste in Thimphu. |
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capacity building
The Urban Pathways Conference took place from 16 to 20 October in Berlin, Germany, with the objective to discuss concrete low-carbon energy, mobility and waste-management solutions to deliver on the New Urban Agenda. This event showcased activities of cities working together on sustainable urban development and helped taking this further into a joint program of action.
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City-to-city partnerships
The partner cities will be supported by exchanging ideas with their peers in other cities who have developed successful urban mobility, energy and resource management solutions. This will focus on the story behind the success on governance, finance and regulatory issues.
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regional replication in Asia
Waste Management Facility – Example from Bhutan – Replication in Asia Waste management is an important issue in Bhutan, mainly in urban areas (from household, commercial and industry) due to increasing quantity of waste and its related emissions. The composition of municipal solid waste generated in Bhutan includes high organic matter (around 50%), followed by paper and paper boards (around 15%) and plastics (around 10%). The main challenges in waste management in urban areas in Bhutan (including Thimphu) are illegal dumping of waste (although waste collection ser- vices are available) and lack of cooperation in segregation and disposal of waste. Bhutan intends to minimise GHG emission on waste through ap- plication of zero waste concept and sustainable waste management prac-tices. It includes enhancing 3R principles of waste management includingconversion of waste into resources, and improving the current system andinfrastructure for waste management (Royal Government of Bhutan, 2015).
The capital city, Thimphu, has piloted evening waste collection services and CCTV surveillance to monitor illegal dumping (Ghalley, 2017). The availability of not enough waste compost plants and landfill sites are alsoan issue in Thimphu. To tackle this, the city is planning to explore technology either to make composting faster or to establish a bio-gas plant (which requires waste segregation at the source) (Bhutan Times, 2017). Greener Way and Clean City are private companies (outsourced by Thimphu municipality) to manage waste in Thimphu. In order to improve Bhutan’s solid waste management system, a holistic approach of Integrated Solid waste management in the cities is required. 
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policy environment assessment on bhutan
Bhutan is a landlocked developing country, located in South Asia. A population of about 779,666 lives in a total area of 38,394 km2, which makes Bhutan’s population density of 20.3 person per km2 (National Statistics Bureau, 2017). Of the total population, urban population comprises of 39% with annual growth rate of 3.2% recorded in 2016 (World bank, 2018). Thimphu is the country’s capital and accounts for over 30% of its urban population. Other larger cities with above 20,000 people are Phuntsholing, Samdrup Jongkhar and Punakha.
Bhutan’s economy is based on hydropower, agriculture, and forestry. The country’s GDP per Capita is US$ 2,879.07 and has a GDP growth rate of 7.99% (2016) (National Statistics Bureau, 2017). Gross National Happiness (GNH) is the guiding philosophy of Bhutan’s socio-economic development for the prosperity and happiness of the people in Bhutan, whose main four pillars are: 1. Good governance; 2. Sustainable socio-economic development; 3. Cultural preservation, and 4. Environmental conservation. Bhutan intents to maintain its carbon neutrality in 2030. It is constitutional mandate to protect 60% of the land as forest area, which currently covers 70% of the country´s land and provides ecological services.
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policy development
Policy measures at the local and national level can be critical to the transformation of urban energy, mobility and resource sectors, for example they regulate systems, provide technological standards, generate funding, impose taxes and set policy objectives. As part of the cooperation with the partner cities, Urban Pathways provides on-demand policy advice. |
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project development
One of the core objectives is the development and implementation of projects that help decarbonising urban energy, mobility and resource sectors. The projects concepts that are considered to be viable will be later developed into bankable projects for which funding will be sought.
Waste Management
Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan which is located within an area space of 1,794.87 km2,. A population of 116,012 lives in Thimphu Dzongkhag in 2015 with an estimated population density of 64.6 per km2 (National Statistics Bureau, 2017a) and future projection foresee the city to grow. Thimphu’s households are 100% electrified. 64.3% of Thimphu’s land is covered by the forest (in 2016) (National Statistics Bureau, 2017a), which contributes in net carbon sink. The main challenges in waste management in urban areas in Bhutan (including Thimphu) are illegal dumping of waste (although waste collection services are available) and lack of cooperation in segregation and disposal of waste. Thimphu has piloted evening waste collection services and CCTV surveillance to monitor illegal dumping (Ghalley, 2017). The availability of not enough waste compost plants and landfill sites are also an issue in Thimphu. To tackle this, the city is planning to explore technology either to make composting faster or to establish a bio-gas plant (which requires waste segregation at the source) (Bhutan Times, 2017). Greener Way and Clean City are private companies (outsourced by Thimphu municipality) to manage waste in Thimphu. 
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funding solutions
An overview of funding solutions is provided in the toolbox. This section includes updates on the specific funding options that are considered for the partner city.
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implementation facility
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action plans
The Action Plans summarise key on-going initiatives and identify opportunities for further action with a focus on cross-sectoral synergies and policy interactions between the local and national level.
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bankable projects
Urban Pathways develops scalable pilot projects in cooperation with the partner cities at a neighbourhood level with an aim to provide a proof of concept of urban energy, mobility and waste management solutions. Based on the pilot project demonstrators, larger-scale projects will be developed to utilise the CO2mitigation potential of an integrated urban energy, mobility and resource management approach and seize the opportunities for contributions the Sustainable Development Goals. This will be done in close cooperation with finance partners and will be geared towards the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility and similar sources of funding and financing. |
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implementation support
The Urban Pathways team actively support partner cities in the implementation of urban energy, mobility and waste management solutions. This support includes activities jointly initiated under this project and other relevant actions currently on-going in the partner cities. |
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About Urban Pathways
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