Staff Reporter 

Finance Minister Namgay Tshering led a five-member Bhutanese delegation to the seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF7) in Vancouver, Canada from August 22 to 26.

The assembly hosted plenary sessions, workshops, and networking events for participants of various backgrounds.

Lyonpo shared Bhutan’s experience in aligning national policies with the Gross National Happiness development philosophy and constitutional mandates for environmental conservation and forest cover maintenance. 

Lyonpo, at another panel, discussed eight transformative pathways for a high-performance food system by 2030 and Bhutan’s Food and Nutrition Security Policy (2023). 

The minister also engaged with GEF CEO Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, Canadian government ministers, and other GEF country delegates. The delegation met the Bhutanese community in British Columbia on August 21.

A key outcome of the Assembly was the approval of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, with initial pledges from Canada and the United Kingdom. 

The GEF Assembly, held every four years, convened ministers, officials, business leaders, and environmentalists from 185 countries. Discussions focused on solutions for a healthy planet and people, involving youth groups, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples.